Question about 14wk pullet behaviour

[PVILLAGO]

My girls are 14wks old now. I went out to the coop today and one of my barred rocks had scratched herself a nice hole and was laying in it. She never even got up. She just kept scratching dirt and wiggling in the hole. She didn't appear to be bathing. I have a kiddie pool for their dust bath and it was right beside her. What is she doing?

 

[nuthatched]

Dust bathing. Scratching in the dirt. Being contrary and difficult. Doing what chickens do. The dirt in the ground might feel better.

 

[PVILLAGO]

Dust bathing. Scratching in the dirt. Being contrary and difficult. Doing what chickens do. The dirt in the ground might feel better.

Well I kind of thought that but she's just laying in it not stirring up dirt or anything. I guess she just likes laying in the hole.

 

[EEforMe]

Well I kind of thought that but she's just laying in it not stirring up dirt or anything. I guess she just likes laying in the hole.

Is she in a sunny spot? If so she could just be relaxing in the sun

 

[BarnyardChaos]

She's a teenager, practicing what hens do when they're nesting. You know how children play with dolls and pretend house? That's what she's doing. Enjoy!

 

[sourland]

Dust bathing and pretending it's a bubble bath.

 

[Mrs. K]

The first time I found mine dust bathing, I thought they were dying, kind of having spasms all stretched out in this hole, one leg kind of moving, as flat as they could possibly get. I think I shrieked and they all jumped up, shook themselves off and went on about their business, looking at me like I was nuts.

Mrs K

 

[rosemarythyme]

Probably a combo of dust bathing and sunbathing. If it's hot, then they'll also dig down and lie in the dirt to help cool off, as the ground even a few inches down is cooler than on the surface.

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens love to dig holes that way.

They dustbathe in them, sunbathe in them, and just hang out in a comfy spot that they've made just right for their tastes.

 

[theoldchick]

My Sapphire gems are Hoes.....backhoes that is. They are the hole diggingest chickens I've ever owned. They like to pretend like they are dead and scare you to death.