Chicks digging in bedding?

[andreanar]

I had many small heart attacks with my very first baby chicks! Scared the crap out of them all, when I seen them all face down and spread out in the brooder (sleeping), Then the dust bathing where they seemed to go into a trance. Sunbathing with their wings all spread out. Ugh those first babies nearly had me nuts

 

[Aji Dulce]

Hello everyone! I' brand new to chickens so please forgive me for all the questions.

I got 4 chicks,2 Barred Rocks and 2 Easter Eggers. They are right around 4-5 days old as far as I can tell. They have been digging holes in the bedding and laying in them. Or just digging and scratching around. Does this mean they are too warm? Or is it normal chick stuff?

Mine are just a week old now and doing the same. I have seen a couple trying to dust bathe.

 

[Duck Lover88]

I had many small heart attacks with my very first baby chicks! Scared the crap out of them all, when I seen them all face down and spread out in the brooder (sleeping), Then the dust bathing where they seemed to go into a trance. Sunbathing with their wings all spread out. Ugh those first babies nearly had me nuts

Hahaha one thing you should know... quail do that ALL the time, like I will walk up they will be laying there dead looking and I will be like oh man they died and go to pick them up and they pop up

 

[lazy gardener]

So,literally just go take a chunk of dirt/grass from the yard and put it in with them? You said they don't need grit for it,that they will get it from the small stones in the dirt,right?

It depends on your soil. The native soil here is lots and lots of rocks, with some soil mixed in! If you dig a clump of your soil, and sift through it, do you find any little stones? If you do, you have enough natural grit in your soil.

I also go into my gravel driveway, and scoop up some of the gravel, particularly where the rains have washed all of the silt out of the gravel. I give them some of that, and they go nuts over it. I do not give them this grit until after they have figured out what their chick crumble is all about, and they are eating well, and filling their crops. Definitely by the time they are 3 - 5 days old.

 

[tigger19687]

Or wait till they are just sun bathing with a wing and leg sticking out weirdly !

That always gets me

 

[Aji Dulce]

X2.... At this point a mama hen would have therm out doing just this. If you think this caught you off guard just wait until the 1st time you catch them taking a dust bath in that bedding.

I saw mine dust bathing in their wood shavings at six days old. And I’ll tell you what else, I have seen two of my 10 Chickies, also at six days old stretching up to be tall and sparring. Bumping their little breasts. A little testosterone going on there. LOL I know I have at least two males in the mix.

 

[Aji Dulce]

Just know... when that happens.... they are NOT dyin of a seisure! .

I know, right? You want to rush in and help them stand up and I wish somebody had warned me how they sleep. The morning after I got them I saw them all splayed out with their faces into the bedding, wings out and legs behind them. My first thought was, they’re dead. Lord, please let at least one of them still be alive!

 

[Chickylet]

also at six days old stretching up to be tall and sparring. Bumping their little breasts. A little testosterone going on there. LOL I know I have at least two males in the mix.

Uh oh, I've noticed mine jumping up and flying at each other. A couple of mine are definitely alpha that way. Does that mean they've got a higher chance of being male? No roosters allowed in my town, so I'm hoping I won't end up w/ any

 

[andreanar]

Uh oh, I've noticed mine jumping up and flying at each other. A couple of mine are definitely alpha that way. Does that mean they've got a higher chance of being male? No roosters allowed in my town, so I'm hoping I won't end up w/ any

Not always. Even baby chicks have a pecking order and they have to work it out.

 

[sfgwife]

Mine are just a week old now and doing the same. I have seen a couple trying to dust bathe.

Put a pan of dirt in there.... THAT is when the real fun begins. Hahaha