Chick thinks she is a pig?

[JennD08]

I have a chick in my flock that is "wallowing" in the pine shavings like a pig would in mud. She is eating, drinking and pooping normal like the other girls. Is there something I am not providing that she feels the need to "wallow" in the shavings?

 

[eggbert420]

She's probably taking a dust bath.

 

[JennD08]

is that normal at 4-5 weeks and in brooder? And should I add to brooder for her to have something other than pine shavings to roll in?

 

[drumstick diva]

Chickens love their dust bathing and it helps keep mites away. If you ever notice wild birds do the same if they can find some loose dirt, etc.

 

[eggbert420]

is that normal at 4-5 weeks and in brooder? And should I add to brooder for her to have something other than pine shavings to roll in?

It's normal.

 

[MageofMist]

is that normal at 4-5 weeks and in brooder? And should I add to brooder for her to have something other than pine shavings to roll in?

I have chicks that started dustbathing at a week old in their brooder XD And they bathe in their food. I do take them outside when it is warm out, and the babies happily dustbathe in the dirt and sometimes even in the grass, as yesterday when I was sunbathing with the chicks out, they were all laying around me dustbathing on the grass. I guess some chicks start dustbathing sooner than others? Once one starts though, the other ones quickly join in on the dustbathing action.

 

[debid]

Can you get them outside? I give mine one of the big, black, rubber bowls full of soil because the brooder run has a wire floor. They start dustbathing very young (growing feathers is itchy business) and I just keep refilling as the dirt flies everywhere. They love it but it would be quite the mess in a house.

 

[JennD08]

Yes, I can take them outside. What kind of dirt do you use? Only asking because my ground here is all Georgia red clay. Any Georgia people here?

 

[debid]

Yes, I can take them outside. What kind of dirt do you use? Only asking because my ground here is all Georgia red clay. Any Georgia people here?

Any dirt works. We have clay in TN, too.

 

[ColoRockies]

You can make a sandbox. Nc was similar when I lived there, but I'd definitely say a sandbox or topsoil from the store