The other day I was noticing that when my chickens go into the nest box they pick up small pieces of bedding anf try to put them on their backs. Is this normal, or are my hens really weird? I even saw one that came out of the coop after laying an egg, and was picking up leaves off the ground and trying to toss them over her shoulder onto her back. What does this mean?
I've never seen my hens do this, but I'll check the next time they lay... might be a while since they're moulting ...or maybe you have a couple goofy little gals
I just watched my Welsummer, Alma, do that after laying her second egg. It's just normal behavior. What it means I really dont know.
It's an innate thing , I guess. My cockatiels will do it occasionally, and lovebirds are famous for taking tiny twigs or strips of paper and sticking them in between their rump feathers until they've got a collection that could double for a hula skirt! It's so charming to watch them working so diligently to store up nesting materials.
Mine do it as well. Rosie, our Hamburg, actually looks like she is pulling a blanket up around her. Pray for Rosie......she is missing..... Michelle
well, that makes me feel better. The other thing that I noticed was that my BO roo, Buff, stands on one leg and holds the other one next to his head. then he wiggles his head back and forth on his foot to scratch it. Not a very good description, hope ya get what I mean, haha.
when it falls off their backs, it arranges into a nest. that's my interpretation of it. there's a purpose.