dust-bathing

Updated on March 16, 2025.

If you've ever watched chickens joyfully rolling in the dirt, wings flapping and legs kicking up dust, you’ve witnessed one of their most essential natural behaviors: dust bathing. Unlike many birds that rely on water for cleaning, chickens use dry soil to maintain feather health and hygiene.

Dust bathing serves multiple purposes. It helps chickens regulate their body temperature, keeping them cool in summer and warm in winter. More importantly, it’s their primary defense against external parasites like mites and lice. As they work fine soil or sand through their feathers, they dislodge dirt, oil, and pests. Afterward, they stand up and shake off the excess dust, leaving their feathers refreshed and ready for preening.

Providing a designated dust bathing area is essential for keeping chickens healthy and comfortable. They will naturally create their own dust bowls if given access to loose soil, but in rainy seasons or enclosed coops, a dedicated dust bath is necessary. A shallow bin or even an old tire filled with dry soil works well. Avoid adding wood ashes or diatomaceous earth unless addressing a severe parasite infestation, as their fine particles can cause respiratory problems when inhaled. For this reason, dust baths should be kept in well-ventilated areas, ideally outdoors, to prevent harmful dust buildup inside hen houses.

For their safety, the dust bathing area should not be completely exposed but rather placed inside a secure run, under a tree or shrubs, or beneath a shelter that provides protection from aerial predators. Because dust bathing requires their full attention, chickens are more vulnerable to predators during this time, making a secure location even more important.

A bright light over an indoor dust bath area can encourage hens to use it rather than repurposing it as a nesting area. Given the opportunity, chickens will dust bathe daily, often in small groups, turning what might seem like a simple hygiene routine into a social and relaxing activity.