What is that cloud in the barn?
That’s not smoke, is it?
No worries, it is not, it’s just a cloud of dust!
One of the chickens is taking a dust bath in the bucket of wood ash left in the barn! It’s completely cooled, of course, when it’s hot it is in the covered metal bucket. Once it’s cooled the Dadz dumped it into an old trash can. The chickens found it! They love nothing more than a good dust bath, and Araucana Shelley was taking full advantage.
By the way, wood ash is very healthy for chickens. We mostly save it for using on icy areas in the yard, it’s a great natural alternative to salt to keep from slipping on the ice. It’s an added bonus that the chickens use it too. Not only do they “bathe” in it, but I’ve seen them pecking at it too. It is said that if you add it to their feed that it’s a good source of calcium and potassium. It can extend their laying period and even help reduce the smell of their droppings! In a dust bath, it helps to smother mites, lice, and fleas, and can help to keep the hens parasite free.
Since I took these photos, my hubby took some of the ash and dumped it into our wheelbarrow so the chickens have more places to enjoy it! No more waiting line. 🙂
I knew what this post was going to be about. Love watching them dust. Great photos!
I’m not surprised you knew where this was headed! It is fun watching them, and thank you!
Seems counter-intuitive by human standards, doesn’t it? 🐔
It certainly does, but I guess it works for them! 🙂
I never would have guessed! I wonder if any other animals use wood ash the same way? Your chickens teach me so much.
I wonder that too, and I even wonder if you could use it on dogs to help prevent fleas!
Ha ha, love it-I did not see that coming with the chicken in the bucket-lol!! I thought it was hot ashes and wondered how you kept the birds from it! Now it all makes sense, but even when I saw it was just dust, again, didn’t see that coming with the chicken in it, too funny!
And, I am SO happy to see how many good uses for wood ash, since sometimes burning wood gets a bad rap…dust to dust, it is natural good stuff!
How long before that bird gets white again??
They usually do a good shake off when they’re done, and that gets rid of most of it!
Oh yea, they do love a good dust bath and how nice they have multiple places now!
That is funny. They don’t miss a thing 🙂
They are as nosy and as curious as any cat!! 🙂
We’ve learned so much about chickens from you. Who knew they liked dust baths??
They’ve taught us so much, and we’re happy to share the knowledge! 🙂
Oh I’m super glad to see this! I have a bucket I keep in the barn and wasn’t sure what to do! Like add it to the dirt? Or what… I’ll just drag the bucket over to the coops today. 🙂
Some people do mix it with dirt, or even DE, but we think it’s just as easy and healthy to just do it plain.
Chickens are most entertaining too. I love to watch them. So cute.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Extra lovies and a treat for Luke. ♥
They really are a constant source of entertainment, we never know what they’ll be up to next! 🙂
That’s quite a dust cloud! Looks like Shelley was having a good time kicking up that dust! Good idea for the Dadz to make another dust bath tub!
With snow covering the ground again, they definitely need it now!
We figured that wood ash was caustic and not a good thing. We learned something new today☺ The chickens know a good thing when they see it!
They really do know better than us, we learn new things just about every day from the flock!!
oh wow!!! you have a weinaraner chicken now!! hahahaha
Now that’s a scary combination! BOL!!
We have heard of this before, but never seen it. Interesting way to get clean by getting dirty! LOL!
I know, it’s crazy!