I went out to the run today and sprayed some water into the run. Even though it isn't hot, just barely warm, they all started scratching around and taking a dust bath in the wet spot. I would have expected it during the heat of summer but now? They never dust bath any other time. Just when I get the ground wet. Do your chickens do this?
They dust bath when they want too, it's also a good way to combat external parasites and is somewhat instinctual. They also just like the feel of it. During the summer I'll spray a sandy spot with the hose for my girls, they'll dust bath in that for hours.
Is the ground in the run normally hard and compacted? Are you saying your birds don't normally dust bathe? Mine have a ritual and do it every day at the same time of day.
I have never had mine do it when I actually wet the ground. That would be a mud bath unless you have pure sand. Mine do dust bathe all the time..they love it.
Mine do it when ever the feeling moves them usually under my front porch never wet underthere but not in the sun
Mine dust bathe constantly. I have hole in my yard that they have scratched out. They really like to get under our camper and and dust bathe. It is weird though that they did it in the mud.
I'm confused as well..how would wetting down dirt contribute to a spot to dust batch? Is your dirt like talcum powder, and the water just beads up? Perhaps that would make them interested in the spot. During the wet weather my hens always dust in the dry spots, under the eves to satisfy themselves, and avoid the mud.
Here in the desert it is very common for chickens to "dust bathe" in moist soil. If you water soil in a shady spot they'll take right to it. I always assumed that it cooled them off more quickly than dry, dusty soil (my chickens use both). What seems odd to me is the OP said they never dust bathe any other time.
Here is a pic of 3 of my gals really enjoying their bath - It was 50 degrees or so - very cloudy and grey outside. eventually a 4th hen joined them.
