why ar'e they digging in the dirt

[criddle76]

why do my chicks dig in the dirt to lay down?

 

[Tinka]

LOL, mine do that too. To me it looks like they are trying to find a cooler spot, but once it's hollowed out they all pile in; so much for cooling off. Sometimes they roll around in the dirt and kick up dust for a dust bath to get rid of pests on their body.

 

[sourland]

They're taking a dust bath. Normal chicken behavior.

 

[criddle76]

LOL, mine do that too. To me it looks like they are trying to find a cooler spot, but once it's hollowed out they all pile in; so much for cooling off. Sometimes they roll around in the dirt and kick up dust for a dust bath to get rid of pests on their body.

haha we love watching them its so funny!

 

[Parismymare]

Mine do that in the manure pile

, espically my white birds right after i bath them of corse

 

[chikenscratch]

cooler or dust bath

 

[Reurra]

You should look up chicken dust baths on youtube, they are soooo funny!

 

[K-12 Chickens]

When my hens were just pullets, I had kept them in the coop for a few days so they would know that that is home base. As soon as I let them out into the run, the first thing they did was dust bathe!

My hens now have several dirt spots(they free-range now) around the yard and under the play set. They especially like dust bathing during hot weather, as the cool, soft dirt cools them down quickly. Sometimes they will all pile together in a small spot and kick dirt onto each other!

After they dust bathe, they stand up in a stiff posture and shake all the dirt out in a big cloud of dust!

 

[BackyardCoop]

Dust bath. I guess it is supposed to help keep the mites and things away. I love to watch them do it! Even my turkeys do it!

Watch your firepit if you have one... my turkey likes to try and get in it and do that in the ashes. =/

 

[Reurra]

Heres a video of what happens to a turkey when it wants to take an ash bath!!