Sunbathing?

[tweetzone86]

Hello all!

Question. I just let my chickens out for a bit until we have to leave for an afternoon of appointments. I have gotten 2 eggs so far and I think I got either 3 or 4 yesterday, but I haven't seen any sneaking off as of yet.

But when I let them out (they were very, very eager) I noticed a couple chickens just laid down in the sun. Healthy, totally fine- just laying down. And I've also noticed many laying down in dirt, then scratching up until they're covered in it while laying (they were also eating while laying down- lazy stinkers

Do chickens sunbathe? And why are they scratching all that dirt up while laying on it?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes they sunbathe to soak up the sun's warmth and vitamin D.
They are dust bathing when they kick up the dirt. That is how they keep parasites like mites and lice away. They like to work the dust deep down to the skin.
It is best to provide a dry place so they can continue that behavior daily year round.

 

[tweetzone86]

Yes they sunbathe to soak up the sun's warmth and vitamin D.
They are dust bathing when they kick up the dirt. That is how they keep parasites like mites and lice away. They like to work the dust deep down to the skin.
It is best to provide a dry place so they can continue that behavior daily year round.

We plan on covering the back half of the run so it stays dry However, the ground freezes here in winter, so does this mean that I need to get some sand or something and put it out there in a dish or something I can put inside at night?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Most of my buildings are elevated about 18" above ground. It stays dry enough under there that they can still bathe under there because there's not enough moisture to freeze.
Where I have a covered run, I use big plastic cement mixing tubs with some dry soil, sand, wood ashes and agricultural lime mixed together. It is rewarding when I see them use it.
I often see them dust bathing in the bedding in the coop in winter.

 

[tweetzone86]

Most of my buildings are elevated about 18" above ground. It stays dry enough under there that they can still bathe under there because there's not enough moisture to freeze.
Where I have a covered run, I use big plastic cement mixing tubs with some dry soil, sand, wood ashes and agricultural lime mixed together. It is rewarding when I see them use it.
I often see them dust bathing in the bedding in the coop in winter.

Ok. Yeah our temps here 2 hours south of the Canadian border undoubtedly get far colder than where you're at, so dry or not it will freeze. Last year I accidentally left a fencing picket on the ground and discovered it was frozen to the ground the next morning...it stayed there til spring...

We don't have sandy soil though, so I am wondering if I got a shallow kiddie pool or something and put sand in it if it won't freeze. Worth a shot

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is always very humid here and can get close to -20F so it is surprising to me that they can keep dust bathing under the building in winter but they are in places where it never gets wet.

 

[tweetzone86]

It is always very humid here and can get close to -20F so it is surprising to me that they can keep dust bathing under the building in winter but they are in places where it never gets wet.

Gotcha. I will try and figure out something that will work. If need be, I'll just put more bedding down in the main part of the shed so they have extra space for the coldest days and space for a dust bath. The shed they're in is insulated so it won't freeze. Might get chilly because I need to leave one 12x14" window open for ventilation, but not freezing cold I don't think.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I know it gets cold there but it gets cold here too. None of my buildings are insulated or heated with big open windows. It is frequently well below freezing and occasionally below zere in the buildings.
Heat and bad air kill chickens, cold doesn't.

 

[chuckachucka]

Sunbathing and dustbathing are two favourite chicken pastimes.

 

[aart]

It is always very humid here and can get close to -20F so it is surprising to me that they can keep dust bathing under the building in winter but they are in places where it never gets wet.

Same goes here, they go under the coop which is pretty well protected from snow. I reserve some of the dirt under there in a bucket each fall in case it does freeze I can put it in a bin inside the coop....but haven't had to do that.

The shed they're in is insulated so it won't freeze. Might get chilly because I need to leave one 12x14" window open for ventilation, but not freezing cold I don't think.

Beware the balance between 'warm' and well ventilated. If it's freezing outside, it's gonna be freezing inside the coop. You'll need a heater for your waterer, unless you plan on swapping out waterers multiple times a day.