/ Register

Bantam digging and rolling in dirt?

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by Jennyhaschicks, May 30, 2008.

Most Liked Posts
Page 1 of 2
  1. May 30, 2008 #1
    Jennyhaschicks

    Jennyhaschicks Songster

    1,048
    4
    181
    May 3, 2008
    Maine
    The past few days have been nice so I have been taking my chicks (4 weeks old) outside off and on. They like my gardens. My one Jap. Bantam goes crazy. She digs and rolls in the dirt like crazy. She will get in the hole she dug and throw up dirt like crazy. What in the world is she doing? She appears to just like the feel of the dirt and tries to get comfy in the hole.
    Anyone care to explain? She is the only one that does this btw.
     
  2. May 30, 2008 #2
    morelcabin

    morelcabin Songster

    1,177
    4
    181
    Feb 8, 2007
    Ontario Canada
    They will all do that, it is called dust bathing.
     
  3. May 30, 2008 #3
    Jennyhaschicks

    Jennyhaschicks Songster

    1,048
    4
    181
    May 3, 2008
    Maine
    Quote:Ok I have heard of that and it crossed my mind. It had us laughing none the less.
     
  4. May 30, 2008 #4
    SpottedCrow

    SpottedCrow Flock Goddess

    6,952
    10
    261
    Jan 12, 2007
    Weymouth, Massachusetts
    The first time one of my birds did that I thought she was having convulsions and ran out screaming her name...She was very disgusted with me.
     
  5. May 30, 2008 #5
    antiquebuff

    antiquebuff Songster

    658
    5
    151
    Feb 27, 2008
    Franklin, NC
    The dust baths also help with control mites and lice. Its great to always provide an area for this in your run if possible . It is fun to watch. Mine will go to sleep half buried in the dirt! [​IMG]
     
  6. May 30, 2008 #6
    Jennyhaschicks

    Jennyhaschicks Songster

    1,048
    4
    181
    May 3, 2008
    Maine
    Quote:Mine was sleeping in the dirt too. That was until my four year old son picked her up. [​IMG]
     
  7. May 31, 2008 #7
    Gersbud

    Gersbud Songster

    217
    0
    139
    Apr 25, 2007
    Central Michigan
    My hens love to dig holes and bath themselves in the dirt. Sometimes they even sleep in the holes they make. They are all really funny to watch. [​IMG]
     
  8. May 31, 2008 #8
    crooked stripe

    crooked stripe Songster

    846
    4
    161
    Jan 14, 2008
    N.E Ohio- Suffield
    If you place a 5 gallon pail of sand in one of the holes they will only dig one hole. I had holes all over the yard till I tried that trick. John
     
  9. Aug 8, 2008 #9
    Dar

    Dar Crowing

    5,929
    13
    251
    Jul 31, 2008
    Quote:so if my chickens are doing this does it mean they have lice or mites?
     
  10. Aug 8, 2008 #10
    ChickyBabe

    ChickyBabe In the Brooder

    44
    0
    22
    May 14, 2007
    Wisconsin
    no chickens nominally do it to get cool or dusty [​IMG]
    [​IMG] (<-me)
     
Page 1 of 2

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by: