Pile of "DEAD" Chickens

[centrarchid]

My son (2.5 years) came in and calmly pointed out "dead cheeeckans" in front yard. I saw what was up and got out camera. This a family group dust bathing together. They have been roosting in the same nest together for nearly a month so building up a mite problem.

See link for details: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882368/what-to-look-for-in-a-broody-rooster

They are responding by increasing frequency of dust bathing.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

"Dead cheeekens". I've gotten that from my daughter a few times, ran outside in a panick and then had to laugh to find a bunch of perfectly fine chickens rolling around in the dirt.

Thanks for the giggle!

 

[centrarchid]

My son (2.5 years) came in and calmly pointed out "dead cheeeckans" in front yard. I saw what was up and got out camera. This a family group dust bathing together. They have been roosting in the same nest together for nearly a month so building up a mite problem.

See link for details: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882368/what-to-look-for-in-a-broody-rooster

They are responding by increasing frequency of dust bathing.

The dust bathing is now occurring when ground is dry enough to lay down on. Since some of the birds are kept free-range the risk of laying on a chicken turd is not too high. Dogs turds just as abundant . My 18-month old daughter and I saw the rooster with three hens and went out to lay next to them while they dust bathed. The chickens had no problem with it even though they were within 3 feet of us. My daughter wanted to dust bath so sat down near birds for a moment before getting bug-eyed and scrambing back to me. She sat in a nettles plant. They are all over the yard and a child's bare feet and and legs are very vulnerable.

If we were to go out to a location suitable for dust bathing, the chickens would come over by us and commence dust bathing.