My Umbrella Dusting Station For Chickens + DIY So You Can Make One Too - Pardon My Dust

by Dawn Russell
My Umbrella Dusting Station For Chickens + DIY So You Can Make One Too - Pardon My Dust

This is crazy:

Snow-mageddon is on, the Polar Vortex is freezing and your chickens are literally cooped up.

The chickens are fed meme snow

 

Fun, warm days slinging treats in green grasses with my butt planted in a lawn chair enjoying a micro-brew with the chickens at my feet is merely a memory.

A sweet, sweet memory.

But here's the kicker:

These days it's about survival: snow, frost bite, frozen mud, or sand bagging the coop so it doesn't flood or, or, or, in my case, tarping the roof so the rickety thing (circa 1946) doesn't collapse under the heavy rain fall here in Northern California.

I get a lot of questions about the dusting space for my chickens and the gigantic umbrella.

So,  I set aside the time and put together the details so you can make one too. 

chickens fire ring pardon my dust chicken yard barred rock

 

Here's the thing:

Your backyard chickens need to dust year around.

Like every day.

Even more so in the Winter when the air is crisp, freezing, wet and just damn cold. 

You know how your skin gets dry and wind whipped?

They get it too.

Even with all their feathers.

Ahnnnnnd: chickens in Winter are more prone to pests (mites, lice, etc).

Because backyard chickens rely on dusting in dirt (or dirt-like-matter) as their main way for keeping clean (in addition to preening), it's even more crucial to provide an area for them to do so when they can't do it on their own: frozen ground, no access to dirt, snow-on-everything.

Because, you see: backyard chickens also don't like to dust in the mud.

pardon my dust naked neck natural pest control diatomaceous earth

This is what you need to do:
Find a container. I use a fire ring that I purchased off Amazon a few years ago.  Maybe you like a different design? Hop on Amazon or grab one at your local hardware store when your on your mission for the items below.  You can also use a metal tub or a big plastic container/bin.
Order your umbrella here:  I chose this company because they are a small biz and, well, I like supporting other like-minded organizations. 
Make sure you order the 62 inch automatic open golf umbrella.  There are a few colors/patters. They do have smaller sizes if your space requires a smaller footprint.
You want all your things to arrive about the same time so order Pardon My Dust too (shown above).
Next up:
Head to the hardware store or landscape supply and purchase two things:

1.) Enough bags of compost/potting soil (NO Vermiculite or Perlite in the mix (example shown below)) to fill your tub, fire ring, bucket or bin half-way.
compost dirt dusting materials chickens
2.) Buy a metal (or plastic/pvc) pole (don't lose me here).

The opening needs to be 2 inches wide so the handle of the umbrella will slide right in (see photo below).
The length of the pole is up to you but mine is 4 feet long (this way I can get under it to add more soil and Pardon My Dust, easily - see very, very last photo).
Want to know the best part?:
This height offers the best view for watching your flock and photo opportunities.

* Pro Tip: most local (not big-box) hardware stores have a department with a tool that will cut your pole to length so you don't have to buy one that is 6 or 8 feet long.
If you have this luxury: ask for an additional cut on one end.
You want the end going in the ground to be a sharp point.
This isn't critical, just helpful AF. *
umbrella handle pyramid pen fire ring dusting area backyard poultry chickens
While waiting for UPS or the Postal Service to make your delivery of the super large umbrella and Pardon My Dust - map out the best place to erect your new dusting space.  

Once you have all your items:
  • Container
  • Umbrella
  • Soil
  • Pardon My Dust 
  • Support pole
You are ready.

Put your container in place.
If you are using a container that has a bottom (tub, bin, etc) puncture a hole in the bottom to allow for the pole to slip through.
Hammer the pole into the middle, add bags of soil, scatter Pardon My Dust on top of soil and slide the umbrella handle inside the pole.
High-5.

Repeat Pardon My Dust application at least weekly. 

Depending on the size of your container, refill with dry soil when the levels lower.
As your chickens frolic they'll be tossing out the dry soil. Having more on hand saves an extra trip to the store.

Lastly: snap a photo and tag me @treats4chickens with #pardonmydust. I'd love to see what you create.
dawn pardon my dust umbrella dusting station chickens

 

9 comments

  • I filled an old large tire with playground sand. The umbrella needs to be added but they will not step foot in the new dust bath. Should I switch the sand out for dirt?

    nedra wilson

  • How do you keep the chickens off the umbrella so it doesn’t collapse and break?

    Marsha

  • Help! I have three 6 inch plastic tubes that are attached to the coop wall for feeding my 10 girls.At the bottom of the tube, I’ve attached an elbow pipe, so that the feed catches there and the girls can pick out their favorite looking seed. This has worked beautifully until about 2 weeks ago. I changed feed from just pellets (which they were not eating) to a multigrain-ridiculously expensive-organic feed. I mixed this up with the undesirable pellets and filled the feeding tubes. For several days now I find piles of the food at the base of the tubes. Wasted food. I shovel it back into the tubes, but would really like to know if there is something I am doing wrong? Maybe the combination of feed was a mistake?

    Sylla

  • Is the umbrella just a large golf type umbrella?

    Bonnie

  • I don’t see snow on the ground where you show your dusting station. Does it need to go in the coop during the winter?

    Angie

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