What is going on here!?

[Prushanks]

I was sitting in the run area and some of my girls have been doing something strange.. In a patch of sun they literally keel over and do this:

Totally weird!! They look Like they dropped dead!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Sun Bathing!!! The sun always feels good!
Feel free to pull up a chair and join them!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I agree, sunbathing.

Rather frightening when it is a persons first flock and it's young chicks flopping down looking contorted.

 

[Sequel]

Yes and wait till they dig a big hole and dust bathe in it while sunbathing. Sometimes it looks like they died and are half buried! Stopped my heart the first time I saw that!

 

[MarkJr]

Then they pop up and look at you like ‘What’s your problem?’ as you’re hoping they aren’t dead.

 

[Sequel]

Then they pop up and look at you like ‘What’s your problem?’ as you’re hoping they aren’t dead.

That’s it exactly!

 

[Eelantha]

100% agreed with the others, this is sunbathing. The chickens do that to warm themselves up, raising their feathers so the rays can reach their skins. They'll contort all over the place so no spot of flesh is forgotten, so if you keep an eye on them every day you'll see them doing their morning acrobatics. Some of my own hens also tend to cluck and purr when they sunbath, which is their way of saying they absolutely adore soaking up the morning sunlight. Nothing to worry about, it's all normal ^^

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I've been raising chickens for 12 years and I STILL do a double take when I see them do this. Oh my God, they're dying!!!

 

[Prushanks]

Oh thank goodness!! Thank you sooooo much!! They are pretty darn cute (now that I know they aren’t dying!)

 

[Birdsong 82]

I agree with everybody. Sun/dust bath It definitely does make someone do a double take. I had my niece asked me if my rooster melted one time