skye Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hello all Thought I'd try and get the benefit of your eggsperience over this little nugget of chicken behaviour: Our Layla took it upon herself to dig herself a Layla-sized hole in our soil border at the weekend, gradually easing herself lower and lower until she was almost flush with the ground, and then just lay there quite content. Is she taking a dust bath I've read about on here do you think? Or do you think she's practising nesting in advance of her first lay? Do other omleteers' chooks do the same? Skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 sounds like a dust-bath to me, they dig quite a deep hollow. Then they sort of roll around on their backs, I thought there was something wrong with my chickens the first time I saw one do this! if you're really lucky, a rather cute purring sound will follow It's very good for them, mine won't use a dust-bath in the run, they just eat all the earth and then poo in it so I've given up, but they love to come out and bath under the tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattla Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 Bangers and Mash do exactly the same....right in the middle of the flowers! They both get onto their backs and spread their wings out while throwing dirt all over the place. It is great fun to watch! Lee-Anne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveypup Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 We have 6 different dustbaths around our garden which the girls choose depending on the weather as some are more sheltered than others. I much prefer them having a lovely dustbath to having an immaculate flowery garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 It probably is a dust bath. They do like digging big craters everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 A dust bath definitely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I agree, definately a dust bath. Mine started off with 4 favourite sites. But now after 4 months they prefer just one site under the apple tree and so big all 4 can dust bathe together. They have gone so deep now that I can see tops of tree roots...... But they love it and nothing grows there anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Definitely a lovely comfy dust bath. My girls have a couple under various bushes and shrubs and make a great contented purring noise when they are rolling in them. At the moment they are both sat on my back door mat with their feathers puffed out wondering why they are not allowed int he kitchen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Mine have both dust baths and what I call wallows. In the dust baths they, well, dust bathe (and it is sooooo funny). In the wallows they just settle down so allyou can see are from their eyes upwads and they just sit there for hours. WWIII ereupts if one is in another's wallow though! Silly things. Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted August 30, 2007 Author Share Posted August 30, 2007 Thank you so much for all the replies, the answers are unanimous - layla is dust bathing! (mind you, i'm sure hers so far have been more like lazy wallows) You lots are a great help, thank you so much from we novice omleteers at skye h and r Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Hi, my 3 little chooks let the smallest (Nell) spend a long time on a dustbath and when she hops into it the other hop in as well, lazy things! Nell spends a lot of time on her dustbath and it always right on the edge of our flower bed about 2 meters away from our patio doors so you can always see her digging away when your in the kitchen and the dining room! infact I am at the computer and I can see her now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classy Chick Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Ok, I am obviously missing a trick here. Do I need to provide Sam & Ella with a dust bath or will they create their own in the garden? I don't want them to be unhappy or without something they need! I have only had them for 2 days so am still in wonder at how lovely they are instead of thinking practically about dust baths and things! Any thoughts please?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Ok, I am obviously missing a trick here. Do I need to provide Sam & Ella with a dust bath or will they create their own in the garden? As long as they have access to non paved or concreted areas, i.e flower beds and borders, they will create their own. My girls have a few different areas they use depending on the time of day and where the sun is. My plants, or what's left of them all look as if they are planted on little mounds after the girls have finished creating their wallows between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Yes. dust baths. Bomb craters. In the veg garden. In the flower beds. anywhere at all. then they sit there in the warm. Lovely I think I'll try it tomorrow, if its sunny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
