New mom

[Dos Locos Polackos Acres]

Good afternoon all,
I have 8 hens with 7 that seem to be doing great. The other 1 just has a few odd behaviors. For example this morning everyone was up and moving around when I went in to change out their water, but when I came back to the coop she was laying down with her head turned to the side on the bottom of the coop with one wing out like a bird does when it's hurt or broken, 1 leg tucked up underneath her and one kinda flat or out to the side. However when I approached her to make sure she was ok, she hopped up like nothing was wrong and walked them kinda flew off. Is this normal? Should I worry about her? I just catch her doing these odd things when I check on them or go change their water, whatever.

 

[piminuse]

Sort of like this? She could be trying to dust/sunbathe.

 

[Dos Locos Polackos Acres]

Yes, just not on another bird. But very similar to what you'd is doing. Thank you! That puts my mind at ease.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It sounds like a dust bathing behavior. They all do it if they have a dry enough place to do so.

Your birds are already ready for adult grit.
Chick grit is only good up to 3 weeks of age. There is a #2 grit about 3/16" in size for chicks up to 4-6 weeks. Adult grit #3 (5/16") is for after 6 weeks.

 

[Dos Locos Polackos Acres]

Their run is on grass right now. Since it's been less than a week since we got them we've been keeping them in their run and coop before we let them free range. Should I let them out to free range so they can dust bathe? For at least a little while?

 

[Dos Locos Polackos Acres]

It sounds like a dust bathing behavior. They all do it if they have a dry enough place to do so.

Your birds are already ready for adult grit.
Chick grit is only good up to 3 weeks of age. There is a #2 grit about 3/16" in size for chicks up to 4-6 weeks. Adult grit #3 (5/16") is for after 6 weeks.

Perfect, I'll go scatter some grit for them right now.

 

[maryn7]

We just gave ours some topsoil from a bag; they made their own dusting nests. (This is after we reclaimed the veggie boxes; their favorite place had been between my plants - so they could eat the plants at the same time). If you don't mind small holes/extra dirt in your turf, that's probably your best bet if you don't want them out and about just yet.

Also - note that there is grit (which is usually granite, I think) vs oyster shell. The former they should get for their crops now (appropriately sized as @ChickenCanoe notes). The oyster shell is a calcium supplement; they should only get when they're laying (and only if you're feeding an all flock feed vs a layer feed, which should have calcium in it already).

And I, too, have a floppy bird. If there's a sunbeam, she just keels over into. Thought she was dead the first time.

Enjoy your flock - they sound very happy!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My smaller gals will stretch out like this. Scared me to death the first few times. One does have bad legs so she does it more, but I think it's like a person crossing their legs. It just feels nice for some

 

[Dos Locos Polackos Acres]

We just gave ours some topsoil from a bag; they made their own dusting nests. (This is after we reclaimed the veggie boxes; their favorite place had been between my plants - so they could eat the plants at the same time). If you don't mind small holes/extra dirt in your turf, that's probably your best bet if you don't want them out and about just yet.

Also - note that there is grit (which is usually granite, I think) vs oyster shell. The former they should get for their crops now (appropriately sized as @ChickenCanoe notes). The oyster shell is a calcium supplement; they should only get when they're laying (and only if you're feeding an all flock feed vs a layer feed, which should have calcium in it already).

And I, too, have a floppy bird. If there's a sunbeam, she just keels over into. Thought she was dead the first time.

Enjoy your flock - they sound very happy!

I'm beginning to think she's kinda the class clown or just a plain dork, cuz she'll do that too. I thought she was dead when I went back to the coop, honestly. Scared me to death! And thank you for clarifying the other for me. I did get my terms mixed up. I need to get them scratch and probably if I can, return the oyster shell because we did get them a maximizer laying food for when they're older. Right now I'm just feeding a good chick food and using the scratch feed as a treat. It says on the bag for it to be no more than 10% of their feed.

 

[One Lucky Momma]

I believe that is normal dust bathing/sunbathing. When you first start seeing it you’ll swear they’re dead, dying, or having a seizure. Then they hop up and walk off, indignant that you’ve invaded their personal space!