Dust bath or just acting wierd?

[Pheonix]

ok, I know that chickens like their dust bath, and a few of them dig a hole and throw dirt over them when I let them out. I've only had them for a few days but all of a sudden I walked out and see the alpha hen in the open covered run, laying on her chest, rocking side to side, and digging out from under her. The spot that she is digging in has always been damp so I thought she might be trying to cool of, but it is only 70 out today. Is this normal?

 

[BrewedInNh]

Ours love to wallow in wet mulch around our planting beds. They like the wet herb garden too.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Yep. Just like feathery little pigs they are! Love a good roll around in some damp earth as much as a dust bath.

 

[Baralak]

My wife started yelling thinking that one of our 4 week olds were injured or sick.. she runs outside, with me in tow, to see one of our pullets having some type of "episode". I smiled, but she was serious, she busted open the door to the run , picked up, and cuddled the "poor, poor sick" little bird.. I had to tell her that she was just taking a dirt bath. Top corner of the coop you can see the little bath tub they created.. Lol..

I guess I'm sleeping on the coop tonight...

 

[True Grit]

When mine were in the brooder they first started taking dust baths on my red flannel pjs and I didn't know what they were doing. I thought they were dizzy and couldn't right themselves. I put them back in the brooder and they would lie there for a few moments and then recover. It had to happen a few times before I realized what was going on. I thought they were reacting to my mosquitoe spray. I even posted my worries. Silly lady.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Completely normal. They enjoy kicking the dust through their feathers, and just generally gettin' dirty. Kind of like two-year-olds.

 

[geebs]

wife story: Ha ha... that is precious.

 

[Baralak]

Better to take a dirt bath... than a dirt nap.

 

[veryhandbags]

Spam removed.

 

[3chimama]

Very normal!!!