Dust bathing with chick

[heathercaitlyn]

I recently let a hen and her 1 week old chick out of their box, and when she started dust bathing the chick would go under her. Is that okay for it to do or will it get hurt? This is my first time raising a chick with it’s mother so I just wanted to make sure.

 

[True Patriot]

How has the hen been acting with the chick all along? Some are better mothers than others. If she's been caring and attentive towards the chick then she's most likely going to be fine. If the mother had been neglectful or uninterested in the chicks care then you may want to watch more closely. Hens have been raising chicks for a long time, they usually do very well at it. As long as the mother is caring for the chick I don't see a reason to intervene. Some behaviors are a teaching/learning experience also.