Beak-Eye Coordination

[JanvierUK]

Are there any exercises or activities you can do with chickens to improve their beak dexterity? I've got a nine week old (I think pullet) who struggles to target things on the ground. She tends to peck just below whatever it is she wants. I can't exactly take her to the optician to see if she's short-sighted! Strangely enough, when I'm holding something at head height, she can grab it just fine, but not if it's on the ground.

 

[Hei 20]

Are there any exercises or activities you can do with chickens to improve their beak dexterity? I've got a nine week old (I think pullet) who struggles to target things on the ground. She tends to peck just below whatever it is she wants. I can't exactly take her to the optician to see if she's short-sighted! Strangely enough, when I'm holding something at head height, she can grab it just fine, but not if it's on the ground.

Put her food and water on top of something that will make it higher up for now.

 

[Sally PB]

My cockerel is the same way! He's 7.5 months old. When there is a pile of melon guts on the ground, he can't seem to get the seeds, except by chance. If I off treats from between my fingers, like a piece of fruit, he turns his head sideways (left eye up) and goes at it from underneath. He can't seem to figure out a horizontal nipple waterer either.