dust bath?

[New chicken family]

My 3 1/2 week old chick was kind of rolling in the wood chips - but not rolling over. She was fluffing up her feathers and laying on her sides. At first I thought she had some neuro-disorder!!!
She stopped doing it tho - thank goodness!
Is this a dust bath?
Should I give them a basin with sand?
Solvei

 

[chickbea]

Sounds like she is taking a little bath! Yup, some sand and maybe some dirt would be most appreciated by the little ones.
When it's really hot and humid the hens will do this, and sometimes they lay on their sides with their wings all stretched out - they look like little dead things! It's scared me on more than one occasion!

 

[bigzio]

New chicken family, Oh ya that is what chickens love to do, especially if they are free range when older and have the ability to pick their own spots for dust holes.

I allow my hens to make their own places and then add sevin to the spots which will control any vermin trying to exist on my hens. Making pest control simple and complete.

bigzio

 

[New chicken family]

Can I put a basin of sand in their coop? or do I need to use something else?
What is sevin?

 

[chickbea]

Sand is fine.
Sevin is a type of insecticide that comes in a powder that can be put directly on chickens. Don't use it on little chicks if they aren't buggy. I don't use anything on chickens of any age unless I see a problem, but that is a matter of personal preference.
Chicks can start getting itchy simply from their new feathers growing in. It's unusual for chicks the age of yours to actually have bugs or mites unless they are housed in a previously contaminated area.