Hen rollling in the dirt

[PunkinPeep]

Mine love to use the dirt around the camp fire that's mixed a with ash. I love watching them dust bathe. They seem so relaxed!

 

[samnsuey]

Yep, they're just dustbathing. They use the dirt to deter bugs and lice.

 

[samnsuey]

Here's some adorable pics of mine...

 

[crtrlovr]

I'm SO wishing mine had some dirt to dustbathe in... everything here's mud.

*longing for warmer days and drier dirt*

 

[azygous]

My Wyandotte's were dust bathing in their peat moss litter when they were just a couple weeks old. That was the cutest darn sight, those tiny, tiny babies digging a hole and half a dozen together would all be tossing dirt under their teeny wings!

Now they'll all find the driest spot they can outside of their pen, even thought there's snow and mud every where, and they'll have themselves a good dirt bath every day the weather cooperates.

It's one of the most fascinating activities to observe since they all seem to suspend their animosities toward each other for the short time they're enjoying the warm dirt on their skin.

 

[ivan3]

Dirt bathing:

Sunbathing:

Have been having to shovel out a path for them, through the snow, next to the house, repeatedly (Spring is coming?), so they can flop down, shovel up, and flap about in dry dirt and ashes under the front deck. We'll all be happier when the fire pit reopens for the summer.

 

[Tala]

I wish I had time in my busy schedule to sunbathe like that!!!!

 

[Chotii]

My White Leghorn dusts herself nearly BLACK with the dirt under my cedar trees. Fortunately it's powder-dry under there no matter the weather, so when she shakes herself off, the dust floats away.

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

I have a big shed (12 x 20) on a hill so that one end of it is some 2 and a half feet off the ground. It is about 75 feet from the coop to the shed. It is dry under there so not frozen, and nothing grows under there. All the chooks head for there to take dust baths when I let them out.
Terry in TN

 

[CityChook]

hee hee -
The first time I saw one of my hens dustbathing, I thought she was having a seizure. A little overprotective maybe? Grin.