I was just watching a group of turkeys and their chicks....

....roll and fluff about in some dirt. They went next to a redwood tree we planted, scratched up the dirt.  The 3 hens took turns (or so it seemed) and they would lay down and then I saw the dust fly. The chicks picked any place they could next to the hens & it almost looked like they were having fun.

The dozen or so chicks sure got into the act...is this like taking a bath???

Well, I have been away for a bit.  However, I read through a few threads and really noticed a turkey.  Renee, I have been away a bunch.  We are dealing with some major problems.  It appears that my mom has brain cancer.  More information than I can post here.  I promise, promise I will be in touch when I can.  Love ya!

Hi Renee,

I have seen birds take dust baths like that, too! I googled this topic and apparently dust baths are good for birds' feathers. 

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"For birds that take dust baths, the activity is important for feather maintenance. The dust soaks up excess moisture and oil and probably helps to remove tiny parasites that live on feathers. It’s thought that dust also sooths irritated skin and discourages skin parasites that infest birds. Taking a dust bath may even help birds cool down on hot days."

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Wild turkeys are interesting, aren't they? I once saw a flock of ten or more turkeys cross the road in front of our van. They were in no hurry! They proceeded to walk into the woods on the other side, sit on a log and watch us go by.

That's so cool that you got to see them.  We have turkeys that come up in our yard at different times of year.  They get very close to our house and many times we have just sat in our den and watched them out of the sliding glass door.  I don't think I've ever seen the chicks though.  Did you manage to get any pictures?

 we have wild turkeys here too. some of them sit on the fence next to I-4 and watch the cars go by...  we are seeing a lot more of them in the past couple of years...their natural habitat is vanishing....too bad!!!

I was thinking it must be a 'bath' of some kind.  I did enjoy watching the chicks...as it seemed like they were just copying what the hens did.

We haven't seen the Toms around for awhile now, love it when they come strutting around and fan out their feathers. 

I do have pics someplace, not from today but over the past weeks or so.  I have birdfeeders out in various spots and that seems to be their favorite place to scratch and peck! 

This is 3 of the chicks--they're even bigger now, this was taken 3-4 days ago.

And here you get a look at the hens & the chicks beside them...again this is under a bird feeder, so I see them there at least once a day.

Yes, Renee, I too have been watching a bunch of turkeys ... only not in my yard ... 

Your turkeys are cute, Renee, look nice and healthy!

Rabbits also take dust baths.  I watch them here, rolling around in a warm, sandy spot till a little indentation is hollowed out.  Then they shake off, and lay down in the warm soil and take a nap.  I've read that the dust baths help remove parasites from their fur and skin. 

Tootie, my best wishes to you and prayers for your Mom, sorry to hear of her latest health issue  {{{Tootie and Mom}}}

Thanks for sharing these pics!

Yes they Love to fluff & play in dirt, like others has said-it helps their feathers.

Where I live, I have a bunch of wild turkeys that make their rounds everyday. They are something else! I used to have a pet turkey, but that want happen again. He thought he was allowed inside my house!!!! Actually he was given to us & when we was outside he was like a puppy, right beside ya, & he strutted all the time. When you sat down he thought he was supposed to sit in your lap. Oh what a mess he was ! His name was Timmy, & we called him Timmy the Tom Turkey, ha-ha! Shoot, he weighed 40 or more pounds, he was very heavy & very pretty when he strutted those tail feathers.

We put him in the back with my horses, & oh boy, that wasn't where he wanted to be. He kept my horses upset all the time so we finally gave him to the man that owned the feed  store. He had 40 or more acres to play in.  We imagine he finally found a hen or two to strutt around with. I hope so !

Have fun with your babies, 'cause theywant be babies long ! 

 Renee, Thank you for posting the pictures.. I have never seen a wild turkey...(now I have killed a few bottles in my lifetime but I have never seen the bird)  Do you know when the Bald Eagle was chosen as the National Bird there was a big ruckas because there were a few that really wanted the wild turkey as the national bird, but it does not reside in every state of the union so the Bald Eagle was chosen...that is my trivia for the day!

Tootie.. I will write to you later today my friend.... 

We see them up in the woods, at times, and driving down the roads, in fields. THey don't come close to the house.  I guess the dogs scare them away.

Our chickens always took baths in the dirt.

Labrat, I had to make a late night run to the barn last night, aftr dark, and with my spotlight, saw two bunnies in the middle of my yard, probably eating clover. Buddy was with me, and I tried to wait till they ran off to the hill, trying not to shine the light on them. I was scared Bud Bud would chase them.  They finally made it to the fence, then I took Buddy a different way, but he smelled them. He minded me not to run after them.  I have so many bunnies around here, and they are geting really brave.  Hopefully he thinks they belong here, like the ducks and my lone confused rooster. LOL!

Tootie, I am so sorry about your Mom.

We watch turkey and deer a lot.  Deer have eaten most of my apples this year.  They are about 15 feet from our back door.  Cyote come up to the apple tree also......lgn 

We have several wild turkeys in our woods. We have a trailcam and a video camera set up out there. There seem to be more turkeys this year than usual.

((((Tootie))))

How cool that you got to watch them all stirring up the powder!  And I love the pics! 

When Martha was alive, she used to take dust baths all the time.  But what she loved more was this patch of garlic chives we had growing in the front yard.  She would throw herself in the middle of it and just roll around like there was no tomorrow.  My friend said, "Cool!  She's self-basting!"  

I've seen birds taking dust baths before.  Helps their feathers.  I'm seeing more turkeys around where I live too.  I never get tired of watching wildlife either.