One of my babies is a thumper???

[Malynda]

Hi all I was wondering if you can help me identify a behavior that one of my chicks is displaying recently. I'm new to chickens so lots of questions but this one has me stumped. I recently just noticed that one of my chicks (which are about 4-5 wks old) will lay down in the bedding and start 'thumping' its feet and flapping its wings and then lay on its side. To be honest I don't know the sex yet and the first time I saw it doing it I was a bit scared that something was wrong with it as it did this several times and kinda took a 3 sec nap and then just got up and walked away. I have 5 in the brooder and this chick is the only one that has done this so far. Of course when she does this everyone has to investigate whats going on. Any ideas?????? Btw these are Rhode Island Red chicks.

 

[ChickenFox]

I'd say more than likely he/she is attempting to dust bathe. If that's the case then it's perfectly normal and you can expect to see the others following suit at some point.

 

[hispoptart]

She is learning to dust bathe. Scared me half to death the first time I saw one of mine do that.

 

[007Sean]

It's most likely just 'dusting' it's self.

 

[Marianne25]

Awwww! I remember the first time I saw one of my chicks do that I thought it was having a seizure!!! ;p Perfectly normal. Wait until you see her do it outside! I love filming it in slow motion.

 

[Malynda]

I'd say more than likely he/she is attempting to dust bathe. If that's the case then it's perfectly normal and you can expect to see the others following suit at some point.

that's awesome because the first time I saw her doing that I was a lil freaked out LOL

 

[Malynda]

Awwww! I remember the first time I saw one of my chicks do that I thought it was having a seizure!!! ;p Perfectly normal. Wait until you see her do it outside! I love filming it in slow motion.

That's exactly what I was wondering !! I was thinking of making a video to upload it here if needed lol

 

[ChickenFox]

You can YouTube some videos on chickens dust bathing and get a laugh. More than once when I first got chickens I thought they were dead or dying by the looks of them while bathing. LOL They can certainly get into some weird and odd looking positions.

 

[Malynda]

You can YouTube some videos on chickens dust bathing and get a laugh. More than once when I first got chickens I thought they were dead or dying by the looks of them while bathing. LOL They can certainly get into some weird and odd looking positions.

Well right now they are doing the whole pecking order thing and then this one starts doing this so Im thinking that she is injured or having a seizure so I pick her up and she starts freaking out (shes my one that doesn't really like to be held all that much unless its on her terms). Thinking about it now its kinda funny but didn't seem so at the time!! LOL