When do chickens start dustbathing?

[mrsp523]

What I think is funny to watch is the other young chicks that hoover around the one taking a bath...like what the heck is she doing

. They also seem entertained by it.

 

[roheryn]

My chicks usually start in the first 2 weeks, right when they start getting their feathers. I've got a pair of 2 week olds right now kicking and scratching away! Its not as long a process as when they get older, but they seem to know right away how to do it. I've got a mix of cob bedding and wood shavings in with them now and they love to kick it around. Another week or so and I'll add a small container of dirt and ash for them... they love it, but its not great for my asthma, as the chicks live in my office, but its good for them so I just turn on my air purifier and watch them go to it

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I have 7 week olds and they have been outside 3 times already. And they are outside for like 3 hours at once. I was wondering, when will they start dustbathing? Mine havent dustbathed at all. Is that normal?

I have 5 week olds. 9 of them. I have used wood shavings for their bedding since the very beginning. They have been dust bathing for about three weeks at least. It may have been longer but I am positive about the three weeks so I can definitely vouch for that time frame to be exact. They are some go getters. I have three each of three different breeds. I can vouch for the cream Legbars as to doing the dust baths first and most often. I can even say that for one specific chick as to doing it the most also.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Oh yes I forgot! My chicks always like to join around each individual hen doing the dust bath and then they will peck all the wood shavings off of her feathers for her that she is unable to shake off from herself. They are so helpful to each other that way!