If you own chickens, I’m sure you’ve seen them flopping around in dry dirt. Kicking their legs and flinging the dirt all over themselves, this act is called dust bathing.
What is dust bathing?
A dust bath is what chickens use to keep their skin healthy. They usually make a shallow hole in the ground, If there isn’t a dust bathing area provided for them. Dust bathing is very important. The dirt or dusting mixture gets onto their skin and coats their feather and absorbs the oils on the chicken’s skin. This is a natural instinct for chickens. If you’ve ever raised chicks, I’m sure you’ve seen them doing this act from a young age. They usually use pine shaving to toss around and coat themselves.
What can you use for your chickens to dust bath in?
Chickens will naturally dust bath in any dry dirt, but this makes lots of unwelcome holes around the chicken area or your yard. You can buy play sand, soil, the sky is the limit as long as it’s a natural product for the chickens It’s fine for them to dust bath in. We use play sand, DE and wood ash. We add this to a small kiddie pool and the girls can dust bath together. Did I forget to mention that this is best done as a group activity for your chickens. They seem to turn it into their own personal spa day. Every couple of days I see the girls in the pool clucking and dust bathing in the pool.
What Herbs can you add to the dust bath?
You can add some dried herbs like rosemary. which helps their respiratory support and also acts as an insect repellent. Lavender is another great one to add not only will it help to calm your chicken but it will smell great too. We also add Thyme because we have it in abundance, Which will aid in respiratory health and has antibiotic and antibacterial properties. The herbs can also be added to the nest boxes as well. Here is a list of other herbs that are safe to add. There are herb blends that can be used for nesting boxes and dust bathing.
| Herb | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Basil | Digestive aid, stress reducer |
| Chamomile | Relaxant, anti-inflammatory |
| Dill | Respiratory health, digestion |
| Lavender | Calming agent, insect repellent |
| Mint | Digestive aid, pest deterrent |
| Oregano | Antibacterial, immune booster |
| Parsley | Nutrient-rich, digestive aid |
| Rosemary | pain reliever and respiratory health support |
| cilantro | source of vitamins A, C, and K. immune system, aid bone support. |
| Thyme | Antiparasitic, respiratory health |
Remember to introduce new herbs gradually and in moderation to ensure your chickens tolerate them well.
Diatomaceous earth
Adding in some extras like herbs and DE AKA Diatomaceous earth can really benefit your chickens. It helps with parasites that may be lurking on your chicken’s skin. DE is a very fine powder of dried fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms. whether you choose to set up a kiddie pool or just make a shallow hole for your girls. Dust bathing is a must, health issues can start to show up like mites. If they don’t have somewhere to dust bath in.
Keeping your chickens healthy will truly benefit you in the end. Farm fresh eggs don’t compare to the store bought eggs. Here is a chart with other herbs you can use with your chickens.
Here is a concise chart of herbs that are generally safe for chickens to eat:
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