Comments on: Chickens Dig Dirt Baths

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:50:42 +0000

My little girls are only 4 weeks old, and they have already starting to dig themselves deep into the wood shavings I use for their bedding/litter. I can’t wait ’till it is warm enough outside to see what antics they get they into.

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:10:07 +0000

Chickens love their dirt baths. Thanks for sharing…VintageGardenGal

By: Joanie Alvarez

Joanie Alvarez — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:05:43 +0000

Thank you so much for this information, My children asked for a pet chicken a few months ago and this morning I was looking for her outside and couldnt find her, then I found her in one of my flour pot just covered in dirt. I tried to move her but she didnt want to be touched, I was worried she was trying to lay eggs. Thankfully its just a dirt bath. Thanks again.

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:23:14 +0000

Irish rose, dirt baths are soothing for them, and helps them clean themselves. It is a good thing….VintageGardenGal

By: irish rose

irish rose — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:33:38 +0000

Hi Bonnie I did freak when 3 of my chickens started to cover and dig themselves in the dirt. One of my chickens looked like it was hurt so I brought her into the house and gently hosed the dirt under her wings. I should have looked you up first I hope she will be okay since I did get her wet.

By: Hilda Saunders

Hilda Saunders — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:14:20 +0000

thanks bonnie, had a guy look at my girls, it was lice. have the powder going to do them when the settle in for the night.my chicken pen is cleaned every second day, but i know where the prob came from. i had friend give me a new girl, so now i have to give friend the bad news. word of wisdom for all you chicken lovers out there, learn fr my mistake and keep any newcomers away fr your main flock for a week or two.oh well we live and learn.

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:18:23 +0000

Hilda, there is a poultry dust that for mites and lice. You shake it onto the base of their feathers. Also, I have heard of a larger mite, which is looks like plant scale that concentrates on their feet, legs, and sometimes eye area. Rubbing mineral oil on those affected areas will work on those type of mites. I’m just guessing on what kind of bugs you have. Your local feed source, if you consult with them, will have some solutions.

Above all, try and keep your chicken coop and outside pen area as clean as possible.

Thanks for your great question…VintageGardenGal

By: Hilda Saunders

Hilda Saunders — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:42:07 +0000

dear bonnie, to my horror i just discoverd that my chicken have bugs. is there a home remendy to get rid of them? also can they infest me? omg i have the creepy crawleys. HELP!

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:18:08 +0000

Darlene, it sounds like your hen is molting. She should grow in new feathers in a few weeks. She could be brooding, too, wanting to sit on a clutch of eggs. Both are natural things for hens to do….VintageGardenGal

By: Darlene

Darlene — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:35:41 +0000

I am not familiar with chicken behavior. I only recently became a chicken owner. One of my chickens, Yoli, recently, started loosing feathers and sits in the her nest all the time… when she does leave it (I allow the chickens to roam the yard about two hours a day) she runs around cackling for about ten minutes then returns to the nest.