This afternoon when I went up to see the girls, Pepper and Dotty came running to greet me but there was no sign of Bluebell. I knew she wouldn’t be in the coop because she had already laid her egg earlier.
I went to investigate and found her having a lovely time in the dust bath. If you have never seen a chicken having a dust bath you would be forgiven for thinking there was something wrong with them. They close their eyes and twist and writhe around. Suddenly Bluebell opens her eyes and casually looks up at me.
Bluebell having a lovely dust bath
Being watched
I love the way the other girls go over to see what is going on. A chicken and her flock members are never far from each other.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Ah a dust bath. My girls have been working on digging out these HUGE craters in their run. My husband was convinced they were plotting their escape. I insisted that was not the case but that they were likely finding worms in the soft soil. He insisted that I go out w/ the shovel and fill them in and I resisted. I tried to explain that those enormous craters would give way to marvelous dust bathing holes come warmer weather. And sure enough. I went out Saturday to find every last hen as deep in a hole as could be, each having a more grand time than the other.
It is amazing isn’t it! mine do the same but when it’s been constantly wet as it has been recently they take advantage of the dry dust bath that I keep on the patio area. Although I have seen them do this time and time again there are still times when I catch them with eyes closed, writhing around and still for a moment wonder if they are okay. Then they open their eyes, emerge from the dust bath and shake like a dog coming out of water and shower the surrounding area with dust. Then it’s preening and business as usual. They are so, so funny to watch and isn’t it funny how the other girls, if not joining in just stand by and watch over very closely!