what are my hens doing?

[chixruleboysdrool]

My two hens have started to dig little holes in my yard. Then they sit in them and sleep when they have perfectly good nesting boxes in thier coop. Does anyone know why they are doing this?

 

[crazyhen]

When they are diggin they are dusting themselves for bugs. It is natures way of helping to prevent parasite overload. Also to hide themsleves from preditors. Gloria Jean

 

[rancher hicks]

Good garden o' peas! Mine have holes all around the sceptic tank that I think is warmer and drier than other areas of the yard. It doesn't even get a load of snow on it in the winter.

Anyhow, I did put a sand box in the run and have to keep buying more sand. I also toss in some DE just for good measure.

 

[aoxa]

Dusting bath!

Mine don't dig holes, but they sure make a mess of my gardens

 

[JodyJo]

dust bath! so fun to watch!

 

[LisaCammie]

Quote:
What kind of sand do you use. I dug a hole where my girls started a pit and then added top soil to it. They seem to like it but the top soil is rather heavy (moist, I guess) and my white hen looks a mess when she's finished. Should the sand be mixed with the soil or just straight sand?

 

[crazyhen]

I use play sand. I put it in a spot that is covered so it does not get wet. Sometimes after dusting they lay so still and awkward looking that you would think they were dead. Gloria Jean

 

[nickie]

Quote:
I remember watching my first communal dust bath and then coming back an hour later to find all of my chickens sprawled about looking very dead... Took a picture and sent it to my mom she called me right away thinking something had killed my poor birds. Funny stuff.

 

[gryeyes]

Oh yes, that's dust-bathing. They love it. Mine have dug little fox holes all over the yard, some of them deep enough to contain their whole bodies, and they pop their heads up to look out sometimes. Makes me think of Whack-A-Mole, only without moles and no whacking!

Here is my Garden O' Poultry with a new crop of chooks just sprouting.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Quote:
That is one beautiful chicken!

May I ask what breed he/she is?