Chicks "playing dead?"

[golddustmommy]

I brought the chicks out the other day for a day in the sun. They are 4ish weeks. They were walking around fine, and then all of a sudden a couple would just collapse onto their side and spread out one wing. I wasn't sure if this was normal... did they see one of our shadows and think it was a predator? was it too warm for them in the sun? I only ask this one because they didn't seem to do it when they were in the shade. But again, it could have been a shadow thing. I haven't seen anyone mention anything of the sort, that's the only reason I'm asking.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

They are sun bathing or dust bathing. My little old english game bantam likes to do that too.

 

[cacknballs]

perhaps they are sleeping.

baby chicks do it a lot.

: )

 

[golddustmommy]

perhaps they are sleeping.

baby chicks do it a lot.

: )

I'm really sure they are not sleeping. They would just collapse. They literally looked dead.

 

[golddustmommy]

They are sun bathing or dust bathing. My little old english game bantam likes to do that too.

not dust bathing. I've seen them do that in the brooder. They just lie there, motionless for a minute and then get back up. I tried to get a pic, but of course every time I got ready to do so, they would get up lol

 

[Ridgerunner]

But they are not dead. They can drop off to sleep at the drop of a hat. They may be soaking up the sun. That is normal chick and chicken behavior.

 

[21hens-incharge]

In spring my adults can be found soaking in the sun.
Tossing the wing out of the way helps the sweet sunshine reach the skin.

For those not knowing what to expect it can be quite a shock when a healthy chick just falls over.

 

[MageofMist]

I was watching my 1 week olds with their mum outside and they tended to just flop over on their side when the sun hit them and stretch out their wing, I also seen two try and dust bathe with their mum and nearly go flying, silly things.

I have also seen chicks, both chicken and quail, suddenly 'drop dead' when I brooded them, sometimes laying on their backs or sides, scared me the first few times until I got used to the fact they sleep wherever they literally drop.

 

[Chickassan]

They are recharging their batteries! Chickens are solar powered don't ya know? Normal as chicken behavior can be, it's freaky, it's unsettling. ..it's normal.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

They are sun bathing it freaked my out a couple weeks ago when my chicks did it. It is completely normal