Chicken has made a hollow in the ground and laying in it and covering herself in dirt and not moving

[Tinkey71]

My almost 22 week old Rhode Island Red Has made a little hole in the ground and is laying in it, rolling around and covering herself with dirt. She is pretty set on staying there, not moving when I reach for her or moving around the yard. I just started letting my hens out of the coop & run for a few hours ever day, into a larger fenced in area, so they normally run around and flap a lot, and generally seem to be happy to stretch their legs a bit. I am somewhat concerned because my one ameraucana hen acted the same way for 3 days and then died. I excitedly thought she might be laying, but she then was dead when I went out one morning.
Possible molting or laying behavior crossed my mind, but having another bird die recently has me worried.

 

[Eggcessive]

She is dust bathing, a very normal behavior, to keep herself free of bugs.

 

[Tinkey71]

Thank you so much. The video looks exactly like what she is doing and the video was even a RIR
I feel a lot better

 

[Eggcessive]

You’re welcome. Things like dust bathing and sunbathing can be shocking the first time you see it.

 

[PattyNH]

The first time I saw my first chickens doing it I was sure they were dead! LOL They laid there on their sides with their wings spread out - chicken bliss

 

[micstrachan]

You’re welcome. Things like dust bathing and sunbathing can be shocking the first time you see it.

OMG! Sunbathing! The first time I saw it, Bagheera was in my lap and started stretching out... my heart started racing, as at first I thought something was seriously wrong with her!