Comfort behaviour

Dust bathing and sun bathing

During dustbathing the bird scratches a scrape into loose material and throws sand into the fluffed up feathers with its wings and beak. Grease that is located in the plumage is therefore bound to the sand particles and removed by buffeting. Dust bathing bouts that are performed without disturbance, last for approximately 20 minutes.

During sun bathing the chicken lies on its side, stretches the upper leg and wing and remains in this position for some time.