Burrowing chickens?

[newmamahen]

We have been putting our now 8 week old chicks in the coop during the day, and have noticed that our Buff Orpington swishes her body around to create a "dirt hole". What is she doing and why is she doing it? The entire floor of the play yard is dirt.

 

[pringle]

She is taking a dirt bath,it takes all the fleas,mites,or ticks off of her.its perfictly natural.

 

[newmamahen]

Thanks Pringle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lila_Brambleburr]

My chickens LOVE dirt baths, which is why we seem to be growing chickens in our front flower gardens, instead of those lovely bulbs I planted last fall.

 

[cybercat]

It is called a dust bath. If you wish her to do it in a prepared box use wood ash and sand with some dirt. My chicks are using the broken down pellets that make saw dust they are having a blast.

 

[CMV]

My girls have a favorite spot in my garden that they have taken over. I've given up trying to chase them out. I just fill up the hole with DE and they love it! It also keeps them from making new dust bath holes in my lawn.