When do chickens start dustbathing?

[macadam8157]

Do you have a dish or pan of some sort for them to dust-bathe in or just the ground?? I have a group at 3 wks and one at 6 wks and I put the bottom of a flower planter full of sifted dirt from outside in with them and the love it, eating and scratching and rolling all around in it. They just don't know how to share sometimes, so one will hog it and until it kicks some dirt out on the floor then the others will bathe in that.

 

[chickbea]

When my broody hatched out her babies she was teaching them to dust bathe after only a couple of days - TOO CUTE!

The chicks I raise myself seem to take a few weeks to figure out what to do.

 

[macadam8157]

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I agree, my younger girls watch the 6-7 wk olds and mimic there every action. lol

 

[HHandbasket]

It varies, so fret not. Every chicken's different.

I have had some start dustbathing in the shavings at 2 weeks, others not until 4 or 5 weeks. I think my banties started really early.

 

[Eggcessive]

My 1 week old chicks are dust-bathing in their brooder throwing pine shavings all over them and their buddies. Can't stopping watching them.

 

[macadam8157]

My babies! Never thought I'd care so much about a bunch of birds!!!

 

[stllaura73]

Amen MacAdam! I am the proud mother of four 6 and 1/2 week old peeps and I love them. They make me so happy! I go out there every day just to sit with them.

 

[Hoosierchickens]

I saw chicks at TSC dustbathing and they appeared to only be about 4 or 5 days old. Some of mine started at about a week or two. Some of them I haven't seen do it and they are almost 5 weeks old. I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you so long as they are parasite free and their skin looks okay.

 

[Fowl Intentions]

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They are precious! I can't wait to get ours in a couple weeks!!!

 

[macadam8157]

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They are precious! I can't wait to get ours in a couple weeks!!!

Thanks there growing fast, about time for the weather to be on my team so i can get the coop and run finished.