Chicken boarders

[auntielizzie]

I'm not sure if this is the best way to describe it, but Bessie seemed to be "wagging" her tail today. Not constantly, but off and on whilst I was out with her and Bettie Boo this afternoon in the garden. Has anyone else heard of this? Was she happy or excited - I was giving them their treats.

[LuckyChickenLover-]

My girls do this from time to time. I don't think it's anything to be worried about.

[auntielizzie]

Thank you LuckyChickenLover. I'm still new to this game so still finding out something new every day! I have had a look at your photos - they are great

[Lavenders_Blue]

Yep it's totally normal, just having a stretch I think!

[percy049]

Mine usually do it after they've shaken themselves (after a dustbath or after theyve been picked up), but it is perfectly normal

[vickichicky]

Check for lice around the vent.... Mine were doing it a lot last week before I found the Lice and dusted them only one doing it now so maybe they were irritating them? Or it could have been a coincidence. But yes mine also do it after dustbathing once they've shaken themselves off!

[auntielizzie]

Mine usually do it after they've shaken themselves (after a dustbath or after theyve been picked up), but it is perfectly normal

 

I think this is the answer? Come to think of it, the day that Bessie was wagging her tail was the same day I had noticed that the dustbath I had made for them seemed to have been disturbed for the first time.

 

A couple of days later I came out to find Bessie looking absolutely dreadful, having obviously been having a whale of a time in the dustbath . I have to admit, I was shocked - she is a beautiful clean white (with black) Sussex Ranger - her "petticoats" and frilly knickers were ruined - I thought she would never look pretty again However, throughout the course of the day she shook it all out and by the next morning she looked like her normal spotless self

 

In between big wet dog type shaking (leading to big plumes of dust flying into the air - reminded me of Pig Pen from the Charlie Brown cartoon) she was doing the tail wagging thing.

 

Another chicken question answered!

[percy049]

We have a light sussex, who is NOT meant to be a white chicken. I dont know how she gets so dirty, even when she hasnt had a dust bath!