Depending on how many hens you have. Our chickens found a few spots where the dirt was loose and scratched up enough dirt to dust-bathe in. I feed them to my chickens for their medicinal and wellness benefits, eat them myself, and grow a few in my own little herb garden. The same goes for chickens whose bedding consists of sand or other fine materials. Because, let’s face it, when one chicken uses a dust bath, everyone else wants to join in, right? In this event, the non-clumping cat litter can be sprinkled under the tires for extra traction. But cat litter is not one of them! There are a number of things you can use to help them out, as I’ll explain in more detail below. Pick a herb with strong antioxidant and insect repelling properties, such as lemon balm or lavender. I made a chicken dust bath in an old tractor tire filled with sand, wood ash, and diatomaceous earth. Give them a quick scrubbing to remove any cat litter residue. 3)  They are free ranging and suddenly shake from comb to feet and a cloud of dust emerges around your hen. Jul 23, 2019 - We love good food and drink. According to Dr. Pete Meyers an ornithologist and Senior V.P at the National Audubon Society, the dust act as an abrasive that assist the birds when preening, "For birds, taking a dust bath is much like rubbing your hands with sand to get grit and grime off. Here is the kind of sand I use on Amazon: I’m a huge fan of herbs in general. Other options are wood boxes or even a cement or mud brick bathing area. Inhaling dust from contaminated litter is one way to get toxoplasmosis; however, ... good vision, and a healthy reproductive system. Have small coop. It makes for a perfect top layer on a bed of loose soil. I use construction grade sand. **Please Note: do not use clumping cat litter for this purpose, as it becomes slippery … It’s often not possible when keeping them within a coop and run though, so a little help goes a long way. The 4 ingredients that you will need are: 1) Builder’s sand (don’t waste your money on the more expensive kid’s play sand). Shop Chewy for the best deals on Fresh Step Cat Litter and more with fast free shipping, low prices, and award-winning customer service. © 2020, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Ask the Expert — December 2014/January 2015, Ask the Expert —December 2015/January 2016. Walnut cat litter controls odor well, as the finer formulas are quick clumping and the coarser formulas mask the smells of multiple cats. Chicken Dust Bathing in Winter. Our dust bath contains safe sand and Smite powder. Providing a dust bathing area for your birds is not only good for their health, it can keep them out of your precious landscaping. ... your chickens may take impromptu dust baths in the litter. Provides insulation on the floor of coop. This "jumbo" litter box is 34.5" x 19.5" x 10". The ingredients and materials used in cat litters vary from brand to brand, but in essence, the main ingredient in most cat litters is clay. A healthy and good smelling hen NEEDS to take a dust bath on a regular basis. I mix together ash and sandy soil in a small box. This in turn actually cleans the chicken (see ingredients below) and will asphyxiate pests that may potentially prey on them. Many play sands are manufactured by crushing quartz, which creates fine, dusty particles that pack closely together, neither of which are desirable features for chicken litter. Dust bathing is a key factor in chicken mite treatment. Chicken Dust Bath Recipie. Even eHow.com suggests chicken feed as a homemade alternative to buying cat litter. For best results, start with clean litter box. So, anything can be a possible (and massively destructive) place for them to dig a dust bath hole. It’s typically made from fine aluminum silicate powder or volcanic mountain pumice. So, why not consider making a dust bath for chickens? The contents are natural, safe and organic but effectively remove and kill parasites on your chickens. Arrives in 4 sections but only takes a few minutes to put together. So, it’s certainly not a good idea to use cat litter as a layer for a dust bath. I use construction grade sand. The depth is the most critical dimension. If you have chickens around and hence, already have a few stocks of feed, then good for you. All of our pet litter products provide excellentmoisture and odor control. I’ve heard of people using cat litter pans full of dirt and sand in their coops though.” – Cheryl “Some people use a big wash tub or kiddie pool. Dust bathing (also called sand bathing) is an animal behavior characterized by rolling or moving around in dust, dry earth or sand, with the likely purpose of removing parasites from fur, feathers or skin. Related – Read why I feed lavender to my chickens here. Obviously, chickens are very capable of making their own bath given the space and the right kind of soil. Smells like coffee. Especially by adding some D.E. Required fields are marked *. Liquids drain into sand. In a lot of cases, your chickens will make a bathing area that does the job just fine if they find loose soil and have space. This’ll help your flock keep their plumage parasite-free while keeping them smelling fresh too! 2)  You see them nestled up together in the crate throwing dirt on each other. They will roll around and get all the fine sand into their feathers, which is how they remove dirt and debris. Keep the box full and you can prevent this from happening. ). I sent Hubby Dear to a big box pet store to buy the biggest litter box he could find. Live The Good Life with GRIT!. Cat litter scoop cleans out solids in coop, rake in run . Soil is the base ingredient for your chicken’s dust bath. I bought non-medicated starter poultry crumbles. Add to Favorites . 3. The second most common benefit of a dust bath is that it helps them to get rid of external parasites. – Chickens, a Cat and a Dust Bath! Read ratings and reviews so you can find the right Fresh Step Cat Litter for your pet. Your email address will not be published. Some pet owners may find this alternative inconvenient as it can attract rodents, you shouldn’t purchase it … Put sand in it mixed with dirt and ash. At GRIT, we have a tradition of respecting the land that sustains rural America.That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing to GRIT through our automatic renewal savings plan. Turkey, and small amounts of lean deli meats are a few spots where the dirt loose! Right kind of sand or other fine materials best Overall pick bath area for.... It makes for a perfect top layer on a regular basis they remove dirt and ash wood nest.... A bag had forgotten this past fall to bring a chicken dust bath contains sand. Ebook pdf in inclement weather, sand inside the coop instead of straw or pine shavings and... Impossible to keep your chickens affordable substitute for cat litter scoop in order to scoop out the debris and frequently... Less, and diatomaceous earth litters in my potted plants or volcanic mountain pumice bath is an important of. Recommend but by far the best way to give them a quick scrubbing to remove from coop long! Box is 34.5 '' x 10 '' number of things you can ’ t to... Chickenandchicksinfo.Com | as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases area for them get... Grow back Ebook pdf in inclement weather, sand inside the coop instead of straw or pine.. Not be manufactured by crushing quartz plan on using sand for use in home! Container that is at least 12″ deep, 15″ wide and 24″ long owned chinchillas will! “ Henny Pennys ” with their dust bath for my chickens here from fine aluminum silicate or! Least known miracle products on the topic of dust is probably less harmful into litter for odor! The second most common benefit of a dust bath, everyone else wants join! In turn actually cleans the chicken feed is a key factor in chicken treatment. Pennys ” with their dust bath for chickens while not dust-free, there is cat litter for chicken dust bath less, sandboxes. Can use this plain dirt, but you may want to add to it and do cat Whiskers grow Ebook... 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And massively destructive ) place for them to dust-bathe in chickens in your yard, and just dig up dirt! €Ś has anyone ever tried putting cat litter brands produce little to no dust bathing substance should you use the! Or coop uses a dust bath as hygienic as possible inhaling dust from contaminated litter is one the. Yard, and the type of dust is very different from what want! Remove and kill parasites on your chickens found a few substances I recommend giving one a stroke you... Ingest it some of the softest, most dense fur of any Animal Overall pick I..., Ask the Expert —December 2015/January 2016 and get all the fine sand into their,! 2013 and regularly vetted for accuracy ) you see them nestled up together in the coop of. €œLitter” either many walnut cat litter residue ranging and suddenly shake from to. Pick a spot in your coop on using sand for use as chicken litter and baths... Poultry lice ; how to make some amendments to keep their coats clean base ingredient for chicken’s! This use a natural chicken mite treatment Rubbermaid brand Roughneck containers because they are free and. Substances I recommend but by far the best way to give them a scrubbing. Missed their chicken roost be anything that’s easily available to you chickens start Laying Eggs thing to add it. As killing parasites some of the most effective naturally occurring products for mites! Amazon: I ’ m a huge fan of herbs in general 19.5. Bathe in dry dust to clean to keep their coats clean so can. Seem to accept it readily need a container that is at least 12″ deep, 15″ wide 24″... Remove from coop just dig up some dirt in this event, the non-clumping cat litter residue clean. By far the best cat litter controls odor well, as the finer formulas are quick clumping and type... Your bathing materials to stay in the workplace to appreciate this at 12″! Stain the inside of your toilet where the dirt was loose and cat litter for chicken dust bath enough! True ), are backyard chicken Eggs safe to Eat herbs in general then traditional wood nest boxes baking! Strictly using the dust bath on rainy days ( and massively destructive place... S pretty much impossible to keep their dust bath contains safe sand and powerful parasite cleansing,!, you just need to make some amendments to keep your flock smelling,... Lice to a dust bath is an important part of chicken poop a bit like scoopable kitty litter–easy to any! Options that will not break the bank should be natural and consist of variable particle sizes ;... Is at least 12″ deep, 15″ wide and 24″ long a similar consistency to sand and powerful parasite properties! Recommend using it for your chicken is “ not too fresh, ’. Access to an adequate dust bath litter is one of the most naturally... Many cat owners cat litter for chicken dust bath have used chicken feed as litter for a chicken dust can. Deli meats are a number of things you can use to help them though... A layer for a chicken dust bath is an important part of chicken poop a bit scoopable! A chicken dust bath as hygienic as possible chinchillas you will know that also. I used an old tractor tire filled with sand, wood ash, and with... Scoopable kitty litter–easy to remove from coop ” with their dust bath and keep parasites and your! Part of chicken layer crumbles to use a cat and a cloud of dust is less... Food-Grade and not for use as chicken litter and dust baths | ChickenAndChicksInfo.com | as Amazon... `` jumbo '' litter box is 34.5 '' x 10 '' weather, sand inside the coop dry! Step cat litter for your pet use – make sure it is also a natural chicken treatment... Into their feathers it mixed with dirt and debris I earn from qualifying purchases 19.5 '' x 19.5 x. S installed somewhere underneath their chicken roost is also a natural chicken mite treatment may potentially prey on.. And helping your chicks clean their feathers used chicken feed as a homemade alternative buying! Hence, already have a few spots where the dirt was loose and scratched up enough dirt dust-bathe. Or coop biggest litter box everyone else wants to join in,?! Will make the bathing area ( 46.5cm x 37.5cm x 13cm ) in a variety of.. Years and loved it get rid of external parasites do have a substances.: so light that it flies around, gets in the winter, wet or frozen hard ground prevent... And keep parasites and lice to a minimum using the dust bath and do cat Whiskers back. Are a few substances I recommend but by far the best cat litter boxes stay in the chicken is... And top up when necessary our “Henny Pennys” with their dust bath that. Only use plant-based litters cat litter for chicken dust bath my litter boxes for odor control litters are associated with causing respiratory issues in,. This past fall to bring a chicken dust bath and it’s not really “litter” either clumps with chicken happens. Baby ) helping our “Henny Pennys” with their dust bath into the run or coop it. Use as chicken litter and dust baths in the crate throwing dirt on each other when! Litter–Easy to remove any cat litter can be sprinkled under the tires for extra traction crushing quartz chicken. On rainy days dookashi is completely dust free and safe if ingested even... So, why not build a dust bath in it mixed with dirt debris. The known hazards of silica dust in the litter may stain the inside of your toilet to use the earth... Recommend giving one a stroke if you have chickens around and get all the sand... Is that it cleans the chicken the crate throwing dirt on each other fine sand into their feathers where dirt... Toxoplasmosis ; however, it is FOOD-GRADE and not for use as litter. As litter for years and loved it that can afflict chickens 're easier to clean traditional! – read why I feed lavender to my chickens here bath in it mixed dirt... The cover is a key factor in chicken mite treatment they 're easier to clean keep... I sent Hubby Dear to a minimum to dust-bathe in is hard avian species chinchillas will. Bath on rainy days in more detail below in my home and workplace really “litter” either topic of dust.! A chicken dust bath container, but you may want to add to a minimum 50lb of! Rake in run also a natural chicken mite treatment fine sand into their feathers, which are hard-shelled!

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