Anyone else have a tapper?

[thecatumbrella]

My d'Uccle, Poppy, has been like this since the brooder. Just loves to endlessly tap on hard plastic. Some examples:

Today, with the Home Depot bucket.
A few weeks ago, with the Home Depot bucket.
Many weeks ago, with a tote:

It's pretty funny. Not sure how common it is, though. Any theories as to what's going on in her head?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

It's usually from when they see something that they think could be food. Mine do it often when they are young.

 

[kattabelly]

Not sure how common it is, though.

I've never actually tried to gather proper data but I'd say probably most chickens do it to some extent. Often because there are specks of something that they think might be food. Sometimes they'll just keep doing it to something that's all one uniform colour with no dirt or texture and obviously isn't edible

 

[tlcmurphy]

Morse Code.
I’m rusty and didn’t catch all of it, but something about the Mother Ship returning?

 

[thecatumbrella]

It's usually from when they see something that they think could be food. Mine do it often when they are young.

I've never actually tried to gather proper data but I'd say probably most chickens do it to some extent. Often because there are specks of something that they think might be food.

The others have done it to a sane degree, but Poppy's probably logged over a 100 hours in the last six months. She almost licks whatever she's pecking at.

Morse Code.
I’m rusty and didn’t catch all of it, but something about the Mother Ship returning?

This is obviously the correct answer!

 

[kattabelly]

Giving them something transparent or translucent that they can tap at each other from either side of is always fun

 

[thecatumbrella]

Giving them something transparent or translucent that they can tap at each other from either side of is always fun
View attachment 4216419

Oh, this is SMART! She would love this.

 

[thecatumbrella]

One more, just for fun. See if you can spot Poppy.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Should also clarify that I'm not trying to be a chicken influencer with my videos. I make them to surprise my husband with. The chickens are just too hilarious NOT to make videos of, you know?

 

[kattabelly]

Oh, this is SMART! She would love this.

I'd go for just translucent with your birds as ime they can sometimes kind of forget about a barrier they know is there when they're in a panic, if it isn't very clearly visible.

I probably wouldn't do this on purpose because it seems kind of mean to give them false hope about food, but mine also love pecking at the pictures of flowers and butterflies on a couple of empty compost bags I currently have refugee plants living in.