Dust Bath = Drugged Out Chick ??

[melonball6]

[This is my first chicken so I'm not sure if this is normal behavior.] My little 3.5 week old easter egger chick does something very strange. I take her outside for supervised play in my yard for about 15 - 30 min a day. I live in SW Florida and our ground is very sandy. She scratches around and gives herself a dust bath. After about 5 min of dust bathing she will roll onto her back or side and her eyes get kind of glassy. Then she will just scooch around getting dirtier but will not stand up and seems unable to walk. When I pick her up she just lays there like she's drugged out. Kind of weirdly cycling her feet in the air instead of trying to perch on my hand. A few minutes after I take her back in the house she will shake all the dirt off vigorously and make a quick peep like it kind of hurts. Then she just goes back to normal. Other than this, she acts like a healthy, happy little chick in every way.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Is it normal for them to get so "relaxed" during a dust bath? She is very vulnerable during these episodes. I fear for her safety as she gets older if she is unsupervised.

Coco

(when she is being normal)​

 

[AZBootsie]

Sounds like she is blissed out. A few of mine get relaxed enough that they don't move when other chickens step on them....but if someone sounds a warning cry, they pop to their feet instantly. I think as she is just totally comfortable with you and her surroundings. As she grow up, she will probably learn what danger is and be a be more aware.

 

[MadHens]

Sometimes I think my chickens look like they've had a "roll in the hay" while dust bathing and all that's missing is the lit-up cigarette!

 

[melonball6]

Thank you thank you thank you AZBootsie! I just did a search for "chicken bliss" and you are so right and I am not alone! I have been so worried and now I am just chuckling at her blissed out attitude. *whew*