Why do chickens love mud?

[-pat m]

I took this picture of fifteen of my chickens enjoying a bit of sun and grass this morning, but out of sight are another 20 who are paddling around in mud why?
I give fresh water every morning and loads drink from puddles of defrosted muddy water? I try and feed them on the grass but why are so many so stubborn?

Regards
Pat

[Nicos]

Why??....cos they can!!!!

Lovely to see them enjoying the warmth of the sun!
A couple of mine had a dust bath in damp mud this morning ( as opposed to watery - or frozen- or dust!!!)

[frias]

35 chickens and you have grass?

[RedThorn]

35 chickens and you have grass?

lol I was thinking the same!

[MaureenHall]

35 chickens and you have grass?

My thoughts exactly!

[lynda66]

for exactly the same reason my dog drinks out of muddy puddles or buckets and cats drink out of ponds and the fish tank

[frias]

I wash the girls food and water containers in a washing up bowl outside. You can guess which water they then drank before it could get thrown away.

[Hilary B]

My dog prefers puddles to tap water. If we offer water from the filter she drinks it happily. Maybe the puddles taste better because of the chlorine etc that is added to tap water?

[Two_Sheds]

Chickens can find all sorts of goodies in puddles .. midges, bugs and grubs

[lynda66]

Chickens can find all sorts of goodies in puddles .. midges, bugs and grubs

i DO NOT want to know what my kitten finds down the toilet when she drinks out of that

[-pat m]

35 chickens and you have grass?

Not that much left after the winter!

But it is hanging on in there I have re seeded a large section when it started to get warmer a week before the snow!!

Pat