Dust baths

[Mudsow]

Do indoor chickens need dustbaths? I have a Barred Rock pullet, 4 months old. She goes outside a few times a week, but I've never noticed her flopping in the dirt. However tonight (as her cage is right behind me on my computer) she appears to be flopping around in the bedding. Seems like she's digging and rolling.

I do not have a "nest box" of any sort in there. It seems every time I add something new, she freaks out a bit. I'm still waiting for my first egg. do they fluff and prepare before they lay eggs? or is she honestly trying to dust bath in the bedding.

I've never had a chicken before an this is all new to me. She is a very sweet bird. MUCH more interactive than I ever thought a chicken would be.

Just wondering if they only try to dust bath when parasites are present. Or is it something they all need to do (like chinchillas)

Mudsow

 

[Metanoia]

Even battery hens will go through the motions. It would be good to give her access to be able to dust bath once or twice a week. It will actually help her to keep herself clean and mite free! Mine love to do it every chance they get!

 

[fldiver97]

I put a big chunk of grass that I dug up (to make room for some herbs) and put that in the run when my chickens were about 5 - 6 weeks old. They loved it, ate grass and scratched until it was all dirt and roots and just right to take a dust bath in. I did not let them run loose in the yard until they were older, too worried about hawks. I just gave them a chunk of soil and grass once a week. Funny to watch, too

 

[Mudsow]

Thanks, it's just weird that I've never seen her do that actually outside before. But then again, she's usually in the hunt for bugs and stuff. Maybe she feels more comfortable once she's back inside so she lets her guard down a bit and flops around.

Also, she tends to stay either in the mulch under the trees or on the patio with us under the umbrella tables. So there's really no actual "dirt" it's mulch or cement. She does dig in the mulch, but never a big enough area to flop around in.

I was just wondering if they do any weird behavior before they begin laying.

Lord know how I will be able to put any kind of box in there for her. I took away her guinea pig friend to give her more room and she freaked out for 2 days! I had to re-configure her cage so it could accomodate her piggie next to her again. She's one weird bird.

2 days of cluck cluck cluck, run back and forth, we put the guinea pig next to her again and up on her perch she went, fast asleep.

Did I mention she was a bit spoiled

Mudsow

 

[Metanoia]

Since yours is such a pet you will probably notice her "squat" before she starts laying. She will sit down and stick her wings out and maybe even try backing into your patting hand. http://backyardhens.blogspot.com/2009/08/readiness-to-lay.html

Hens are communal animals so one hen by herself probably does need the guinea pig companion. She might fret if she is by herself. They usually recommend 3 chickens minimum to prevent fretting and lonliness.

 

[Mudsow]

The thing is though, I don't think she knows she's a chicken. She was part of an easter classroom egg hatching. She and her siblings were supposed to be "ducks" however, the eggs began hatching early, the teacher panicked that they were chickens, not the ducks she ordered, and wasn't prepared. They began dying in short order. I was given this last chick hatched in hopes that she wouldn't accidently kill it. So I'm not sure if they pecked at each other, or if this particular chicken (who was a bit butt pasted when I got her) was just fortunate to be the last hatched.

At any rate, she doesn't seem to particularly care what kind of company she has. Dogs, cats, people, guinea pigs. As long as there is another body around, she's a happy camper. The guinea pig fortunately for her can't get up and leave the room

Once the eggs start coming, I figured I can eventually ease in another hen for company if something happens to the guinea pig (who is almost 4 years old now) Right now I'm still getting the "I can't believe we've got a chicken" statement from my husband.

She's in an 8' x 2' cage right now and doesn't seem to mind the confinement. Even when she's outside, she doesn't wander, she stays in a small area by choice.

This is all new to me. I'm taking it one step at a time. Of course after she's egged out, she'll continue being a pet here, I couldn't think of roasting her! Not that I"m against it..... I just couldn't do it myself.

I have some koi clay (Montmorillonite clay) Maybe I'll toss a bit of that under her bedding so she can get some satisfaction with her dust baths.

Mudsow

 

[Metanoia]

Sounds like you're doing well so far. She does sound like she is substituting whoever is there as she has no chicken buddies and has fallen for you and the guinea pig. We had a horse once who fretted when the goat she liked was in another paddock. Chickens are communal and do need something with them. Good thing you have another pet for her to adopt as a friend.

I think she'll love you for giving her some dirt. And if you have a nice garden bed show her that. Mine cleared off a patch of weeds and dust bath happily in one of my garden beds. I think the dirt is nice and soft for them there. They flick it everywhere, right up in all their feathers. They're quite funny when they do it. They also like to sunbathe. I had one lie on the grass on her side in the sun. The flop out so much that it looks like they're dead sometimes. I laugh so much at them.

 

[Metanoia]

I took a cute video today of some of my hens dust bathing under a tree

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29577744@N06/3846823395/

 

[red rosecomb]

Your chickens are so cute Metanoia! Its really cute and funny when my chickens dust bath. They seem to dust bath out of instinct and they start as chicks, while my chicks started because their mom showed them.

Mudsow
Since your that chickie's mom, hows about taking a little dirt bath with your baby

Who knows you might be a natural at it and teach your hen a thing or two

 

[chick4chix]

My girls were taking "dust baths" in their brooder when they were just teensy- they would bury themselves in the pine shavings and then stand up and shake- so cute. Now that they are outside- I put a large shallow terracotta pot on the ground 3/4 filled with peat moss- some DE- and a little fresh pine shavings- they love it and all 6 try to jam themselves in there to dust bathe. When they were smaller they could all fit- now one or two will be left out or they will just sit on top of the others which is hilarious to watch: