My test for chicken intelligence is simple: can they figure out how to get in the gate when they start on the wrong side...sadly a few never ever get this. They will copy another chicken if there's one in the same predicament but there are a couple that never figure it out. Every evening at...
I have a hen that does that...I don't think she even notices. She'll just stop and drop an egg anywhere. Fortunately they are fairly small white eggs so there's not too much mess when she drops them from a height. She popped one out while perched on a sawhorse last week and I often find them...
I thought the shaving issue was about baby chicks filling up on shavings instead of feed...I grew up using shavings as bedding for every animal I ever owned. Usually just bought whatever flavor was cheaper. Except the tortoise - shavings didn't do well for the tortoise.