4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[mother hen]

When our girls and were delivered last Friday along with their , I asked the very nice & helpful delivery guy if I needed to provide them with a dust bath. He suggested that it was only needed if they had mites. This afternoon I noticed they'd hollowed out an area in the bark chippings and were rolling around in the dirt. I have to say that they looked very cute when they were lying huddled up together. Wish my OH had been around to see it. Anyway, were they just having a bit of fun or should I be checking for mites ??

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Mother Hen

 

Don't worry, they were just having fun . They love dustbathing any time they can find a nice dry dusty bit. I believe it is related to keeping down beasties & so on, but they do it whether they have them or not.

 

You can provide a dustbath for them (cat litter tray, shallow tub trug etc) and put playsand & compost or similar in it, but they'll find their own place even if you don't.

 

Re mites, you can inspect their wingpits and round the vent area periodically to see if you can spot any creepy crawlies. You can't miss lice eggs . It's easily treated with Johnson's Lice & Mite Spray (I got mine from Pets At Home).

[mother hen]

Thanks. That's good to hear. They weren't keen on spending too much time out in the run to begin with. But it looks like a sign that they've settled in and are feeling at home. Hurrah !

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

A good indicator of mites is the coop - you will see them when you clean if you've got them. Cleaning out with Poultry Shield (available from your local chicken people or country supplies store sorts that right out and acts as a preventative.

 

Enjoy your chooks and their dust bathing - just don't get close if they shake - you'll get dust in yer eye as I discovered!

 

Anna x

[jools+6]

that man was fibbing they love their dustbaths . as for mites ,,, you will know if you get them . keep an open eye , we are battling them just now put some mite powder in their dust bath (or ex flower bed) saves us a job ... enjoy . this is not to say some serious scrubbing , disenfecting , hosing , steam cleaning , some people blow torching , anti mite powdering (our coop looks like a christmas scene ) etc is not needed ... but ... they're worth it

[mostin]

Ours adore dust bathing, especially round the base of trees or under hedges where the soil is all powdery and dry. One of our girls is a light Sussex who i think once was white but never is anymore as she has about 3 baths a day. She has no mites, we've checked, she just loves it .

[MedusA]

As luck would have it I took some pics of Violetta dustbathing the other day. Here she is in an action shot

 

 

and virtually on her back in this one

 

 

At least you know your girls are taking care of their beauty regime.