Hens laying on side

[yellowchick]

yesterday when letting the chickens out, 3 of my hens would hold one wing half way out and wiggle down and lay on their sides. Is this a sign they are fixing to start laying? I have one hen laying, the others haven't started yet. If either one of the roos seen them laying down he would go over to them and nudge them up.

 

[ozark hen]

they are sunning themselves.

First time I saw one of my hens lying on her side I thought she was dead. They love to soak up the sun and roll in a dust bowl.

 

[wundernurse]

sounds like what my hens look like when they are giving themselves a dust bath. Were they in some loose dirt getting it all over themselves?

 

[sandypaws]

yup... sounds like they are getting a "tan" laying in the sun..

 

[chickencoop31320]

My silkies do that when it's dry and pretty out.
They're dusting themselves.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

It always freaks my kids out, when the hens do that... we'll come home, and all of our chickens are just Laying there... like they're dead... but they are just fluffing dust and dirt into their feathers, and then soaking up the sun. Silly hens! So no, they are not 'laying', but they are LAYING.... in the dirt...

 

[yellowchick]

ok thanks...they wern't moveing around to dust themselves and even one was on top of the wood pile and did the same thing. Nice to know it's normal.