What on earth are they doing?

[amstultz]

https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardCh...uses_doing_the_other/?st=JSS1Y83X&sh=99739116

It’s about 3pm and 70° here. Not really sure what they’re doing... someone on reddit said they’re trying to give themselves a dust bath.. should I give them something to help??

 

[DobieLover]

https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardCh...uses_doing_the_other/?st=JSS1Y83X&sh=99739116

It’s about 3pm and 70° here. Not really sure what they’re doing... someone on reddit said they’re trying to give themselves a dust bath.. should I give them something to help??

They ARE dust bathing. As long as they can loosen whatever they are digging around in and flip it up onto themselves, they will be happy.
You could add loose soil, peat moss, sand, wood ash to the area to make a nice loose mix and they will be enthralled.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

Just a friendly group dust bathing session

 

[MissChick@dee]

You might want to add some other dusting areas they are sure crowded....something in those spots they like. Probably because it’s dry.
That’s what it looks like when six chickens try to get into a bathtub for two.

 

[DobieLover]

You might want to add some other dusting areas they are sure crowded....something in those spots they like. Probably because it’s dry.
That what it looks like when six chickens try to get into a bathtub for two.

Mine have 1/4 acre with lots of space they could dust bathe in all spread out. They have always enjoyed piling in on each other. Sometimes they brace against each other back to back. I think they prefer it that way.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Cute video and yes they're dust bathing. If you toss down a bag of peat moss on that spot they'll probably make it disappear in a few days.

Dust bathing is a social activity so they do like to crowd up (and toss dirt all over each other).

 

[MissChick@dee]

https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardCh...uses_doing_the_other/?st=JSS1Y83X&sh=99739116

It’s about 3pm and 70° here. Not really sure what they’re doing... someone on reddit said they’re trying to give themselves a dust bath.. should I give them something to help??

I can’t tell but it looks like it’s inside their run. You could add more dry dirt. Mine to dust bathe together but each likes their own little spot to dig down and roll in. Sometimes they’ll make their own dust bath you just gotta let them do their thing.

 

[amstultz]

It is inside their run! That makes sense, a few of them have individually burrowed into the ground the past few days but today they were all doing it
We’re working on a good fence to keep the dogs out of the side yard right now. It should be done tomorrow and they’ll have a lot more room to roam around. We have a lot of preditors (including our two sheep dogs) so unfortunately they wouldn’t be very safe just free range in the backyard. We’re working on it!!

 

[Rietta]

Adorable!

 

[Al Capon]

I've noticed mine kind of "zone out" when they're dusting, kinda like a cat purring. Not really sure what they're aware of. They usually spot the feed can 50 yards out and come a running when I walk out with it. But when dusting, I don't think they even see it unless I rattle some feed in it. You can tell they're in Nirvana.