Pumice Bathing Dust for Poultry and Game Birds

ChickenDust™ is naturally pure pumice blended from select grades to provide a highly effective dust bath for poultry and game birds. Dust bathing is a fascinating, instinctual grooming behavior, used to clean feathers and skin and control parasites. Birds instinctively seek out and create places to dust-bathe. Making ChickenDust available to the flock can greatly improve the effectiveness of the activity.

The Nitty Gritty

DUAL-BENEFIT FORM FACTOR: The absorbent, foamed-stone, many-edged form factor of fine pumice sand makes it especially useful for both dust-bathing purposes. ONE: Pumice works as a dry cleanser and feather conditioner by capturing gunk and absorbing excess oils, which are removed during dust shake-off. TWO: Pumice works as a mechanical insecticide through abrasion and desiccation. Pumice dust sticks to the waxy coating on a parasite’s exoskeleton, cutting and scraping, jamming and grinding and sucking out moisture until the bugs break down and/or dry out—parasitic abatement without chemicals.

SAFE & CLEAN: ChickenDust™ has no crystalline structure, and thus does not present a respiratory danger to man or fowl. In industrial use, for example, our pumice grades (including those grades used for ChickenDust) are classified by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a “nuisance dust.” ChickenDust is also pH neutral (pH of 7.2), presenting no caustic acidity or alkalinity concerns.

PURITY: ChickenDust is comprised of approximately 98% pumice and 2% other igneous minerals.

BEYOND DUST BATHING: Parasitic control can be amplified by sprinkling ChickenDust in and around the coop, especially in the structural seams and crevices where parasites hide. If bedding materials are used in the coop, a liberal sprinkling of ChickenDust will also supplement absorption and odor control. When soiled coop bedding is changed out, ChickenDust is also great in the compost pile, improving the composting process, and then later, the soil structure when the compost is tilled in.

Instructions for Use

Use a shallow container large enough for more than one bird. A shallow-sided container can be set on the ground, or a higher-sided container can be counter-sunk into the ground as necessary. Locate the dust bath out of the weather (so it stays dry) and in a warm place (perhaps where it can catch the sun) during the cold months to encourage its use.

Alternatively, add ChickenDust™ to a shallow depression in the ground—typically a bathing spot the birds have already scratched out and frequent. A generous layer of ChickenDust will improve the effectiveness of the native-soil dust the birds are already using.

MAINTENANCE: Periodically, droppings will need to be scooped out. Add additional ChickenDust as needed. Change out the bathing dust every few weeks, depending on number of chickens and use frequency.

DISPOSAL: Spread soiled ChickenDust on the compost pile, spade it into garden soils, or sprinkle it over pasture: pumice becomes a functional amendment in all of those places.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and SUPPORT DOCUMENTS:

» Technical Data: the physical and chemical properties of our natural pumice.

» Pumice Safety Data Sheet (PDF)

» Declaration: Free from Heavy Metals and Pesticides (PDF)

» Declaration: Organic Status of Pumice (PDF)

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PLEASE READ THE NOTES BELOW BEFORE PLACING AN ORDER.

CHICKENDUST™ (FINE PUMICE BATHING SAND)

ChickenDust™ is an blend of fine pumice particles chosen specifically to enhance the natural dust-bathing behaviors of poultry and game birds, providing efficient cleaning plus control of mites, fleas, lice, ticks, and other parasites. Function is wholly mechanical; contains no chemicals.

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ORDERING & SHIPPING NOTES

1 | For large orders (over three 45 lb. production bags), please contact us at fc@hesspumice.com for a freight rate.

2 | The shopping cart system occasionally glitches on an address and throws up an “order can’t be shipped to your address/location” (or similar) error message. Not true. We ship almost anywhere. Contact us at fc@hesspumice.com, and we’ll take care of you.

3 | The shopping cart system is set up to auto-calculate domestic (U.S.) shipping; for those ordering from elsewhere, please email us at fc@hesspumice.com and we’ll see what we can do.

4 | Orders will take up to 3 business days to prepare and process before shipping.