my 2 month chicks are falling over! whats wrong??

[AlotaBitCountry]

my 2 month old buff chicks just started this falling over thing. they have most of their big feathers in and just a little fuzz left on their heads mostly and none of them peck at eachother. the one started it yesterday where he would fall down and it looked like maybe his leg was hurting or something but when then he also would get back up and run around and fly around and then fall down again. i thought maybe he was hurt, until today i saw all three of them doing it at the same time!!!

i take my chicks outside and watch them now so they can have some space to jump around and get used to outside, and today while i was doing that they started all doing this falling down/laying down in their side thing. then they found a dirt spot and start digging and rolling in it and all huddling up and digging and scratching while they were laying down and on their sides too. they would close their eyes like they were trying to sleep and get comfy??

im not sure if there is something wrong with them or if they are just comfy and like the dirt under their feathers... they have never done this before.

we are feeding them crumbles and water with electrolytes. 1/4 tbs per gallon. they always have a clean brooder and everything else they need...

is this something wrong or what are they doing??

 

[AlotaBitCountry]

also...

none of them have pasty butt, its all clear. and they havent STOPPED walking. they do this and then they will be up and run around or fly around then do this...

 

[klmclain1]

Don't know about the falling over thing... but the rolling around in the dirt is dust-bathing! Chickens LOVE to dust bathe!

 

[AlotaBitCountry]

okay good they were REALLY getting into it and didnt even care about me walking by or anything i wasnt sure if they were sick or like to hot or something..

 

[nuchickontheblock]

Chickens love to dig and roll in the dirt, sand, whatever they can, to dust bathe. They also sun bathe and will lie on their side in the sun,or a warm spot and look like they are dead. Can be a bit scary when you first see it. If you disturb them from the sunbathing behavior, they kind of jump up like they are startled.

 

[MagicMarcy66]

The sunbathing sounds about right along with the dirt baths. One morning I came down the staircase at about mid morning and there were three of my girls sprawled out practically on there backs and wings wide open. What a sight it is to see, if you don't know whats going on you would think Oh my goodness what the heck happened to my girls. As soon as they sensed I was standing there they rolled over slowly and got up and waited for there treats.

It still takes my husband by surprise every time. The things you will learn from your chickens will astound you at times. My favorite is...why when they see me planting the new veggie garden they do every thing they can to teleport in. And I mean teleport, as in Star Trek teleport. For the first few weeks we are perplexed as to how these girls get in. Unbelievable!!! Its a new way every year. Just when we think we have it fixed, oh no the Orps have teleported. Last year it was the Barreds, this year the Orps (Orpingtons). Next year I can imagine it will be the Amercauna's.

They are so much fun!!!!

Magic Marcy66
sorry to stray off topic

 

[klmclain1]

That's funny!!!

 

[AlotaBitCountry]

my 3 buff girls are the same way, i have one named ruby who is an escape ARTIST. she could weasle out of anything and id come downstairs in the morning and she would just be jumping and flying around outside the cage lol then the other girls figured it out and they just loved to get out and fly around. i just put them outside in the new coop today so far they love it but well see how it goes overnight