feathers
Backyard hen care at home
Dust bath access daily; check vents and legs weekly for mites Exercise need: moderate.
Never do this
- House unfeathered chicks with adult hens
- Use cedar shavings in the brooder or coop
- Feed layer ration to birds that have not started laying
Tools
- Dust bath box (sand or peat)
- Poultry waterer
- Nipple or cup drinker
- Diatomaceous earth for the dust bath (food-grade only)
Watch for
- Mites and lice
- Respiratory infection
- Egg binding
- Coccidiosis in chicks
How we groom this coat
- A dry dust bath does more for mites than a water bath
- Keep the coop dry — wet litter is the fastest path to respiratory trouble
- New birds need a see-but-don't-touch period before they share the roost
Not a substitute for veterinary advice. Open the grooming hub.