Hen rollling in the dirt

[jennymay]

One of our Americana hens has dug a hole up against the house, is laying down in it, pecking and digging deeper and, it seems, attempting to roll over in the hole. We rescued these hens 4 months ago and they've been laying and acting "chicken normal" since the beginning of the year. We've never seen this behavior before. What is she doing?

 

[Burbs]

She'd probably just dust bathing. Mine do it all of the time.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
That is dustbathing. Perfectly normal and actually a good thing. It's the way chickens clean themselves. Wait till you see several trying to do this together.

Imp

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I would just enjoying her self and dusting

 

[teach1rusl]

Yep...trying to dust bathe. They'll waller' around like piggies. Mine will do it in their bedding if there's no sand or dirt available. Fixing them a dust bath area w/a little DE sprinkled there is a great way for them to treat themselves for mites and such too. They'll dust themselves with it...

 

[SoCalChick]

Shes taking a dirt bath. My chickens love to do that - I even built a sand box in their run so they can enjoy it.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Agreed. Sunbathing.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I remember when mine first started dust bathing...it was so adorable. I was just waiting and watching for them to start. Reminds me of a puppy rolling in the dirt.

 

[M To The Maxx]

She is just dust bathing.

 

[JayDe]

Perfectly normal. Here's mine under their favorite bush today doing the exact same thing

They go in the dirt, throw it on themselves, then later they'll shake off and sometimes lay down in the sun