Help- What are my young hens doing in these pictures? **Updated**

[JackInCT]

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Yes! It freaked me out for a moment the first time I saw it! As soon as I took a step near them, though, they all jumped as and milled around as if to say, "We weren't being weird, what are you talking about..."

 

[chicmom]

Oh they're dust bathing! It's like going to the spa for them......Helps get rid of mites or lice too. Crazy, but they love it!

 

[WriterChick]

My hens have been doing this maneuver since chickhood - most of the time in a patch of sun. I think they are just sunning themselves. Vit D is very important to their health and this is nature's way of making sure they get some. Mine also do something that I call ballet du poulet - standing on one foot, stretching their opposite wing and leg out towards the back. It's a hoot!

 

[JackInCT]

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Excellent! I'm glad to see my hens aren't just weird ^_^ Thanks for the photo

 

[CarolJ]

I get so amused when mine so that - they start burrowing up beside and underneath each other - like a solid hen blanket.

 

[JackInCT]

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I'm laughing at "Ballet du poulet." I've had a pair of small parrots for ages, so I'm well familiar with the little wingy dance. The best time was when I was watching a wild turkey in my yard for a while and she started doing it too. It's much funnier on the larger birds than it is on my little cockatiels.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I'd say yourbeautiful hens are sun bathing. They stretch out their wings to help regulate their body temp.

 

[JackInCT]

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They were so sitting on each other, yes! A big pig-pile of hens. I guess that's a hen-pile. I was envious of their apparent communal nap efforts.

 

[JackInCT]

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Awww, you called my hens pretty ^_^ Thank you.
It does seem that the consensus is they're taking a nice warm sunbath. The first day they did it was much warmer than today, and I was afraid they were OVER-hot. But then I realized, they probably wouldn't be lying in the sun to cool off- hence my confusion! I guess with my nice people clothes and all, a cool day might feel warmer than it is.

 

[Farm_Maven]

Yeppers, they're sunbathing for sure! And it looks like they are enjoying every minute of it too!! lol