Behaviors I don't understand

[IamRainey]

My 3 chickens are only 24 weeks old so I am still very new at this. Today I saw a couple things I don't understand.

One is that wherever one of my chickens is the other 2 are. This morning the only one who is laying yet was in the nesting box in her process and another one got in with her. To my surprise Prudy, the one who was busy there, didn't object at all.

I know chickens are supposed to have 4 square feet of space but WHY when they occupy less that that altogether? I rarely see more than 2' of space between any of my chickens.

The other odd thing was that I cleaned and disinfected their ladder today. I used a solution of orange oil extracted in white distilled vinegar. I brush all the poo down and rinse with clear hose water. When I put it back in the run they all had to go and wipe their beaks on it for about 5 minutes. At first they pecked as though they thought there might be some seeds there or something but then they repeatedly rubbed one side of their beaks and then the other all the way up. What's that about?

I have loved having them and watching them. But I certainly don't understand them.

 

[Welshies]

Birds are flock creatures, and so they stick together.
4' square feet of space is a rule of thumb that was created because birds need space to escape or breathe if they don't feel like cuddling.

 

[Lauren Kim]

If they stayed together when they were chicks, then they are very close and they probably don't want to leave each other. If you think about it, it's very sweet!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As flock animals, they want to be near friends. That doesn't mean they like their friends to be that close.
I've had as many as 3 hens in a nest box at the same time and even a rooster sitting with a hen. When they are in the process of laying, that is their primary task so they sit tight.
The more space they have the less frequently one needs to clean. Ventilation is improved and they don't need their beaks trimmed.
Not sure why they were wiping their beaks on the ladder, maybe they liked the smell.
Birds will wipe their beaks after they've eaten something messy like fermented feed, cottage cheese or squash.

 

[TwoCrows]

Chickens are highly sociable. They feel vulnerable when alone. So it only stands to reason they will follow each other around, or squeeze in where another is.

As for the ladder cleaning, they are also suspicious of everything as they are preyed upon by a great number of creatures. They were probably curious and had to make sure the ladder was still safe. (Not to mention inspecting your work! )

They sure are interesting creatures to observe!

 

[IamRainey]

Thanks everyone!

Three in a nesting box! I was amazed that 2 could fit in mine. And it really is sweet to know that they want to be near one another. I hope that's a good sign for when 4 more chicks arrive at the end of June! I hope they'll be equally sweet to them.

I plan to raise the chicks in a wire cage inside the coop with the grown girls. I hope by the time they're feathered and I let them out they'll be familiar and ready to tolerate one another.

My plan better work 'cause I don't have room for a second isolation coop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have a picture of the 3 hens in the same box that I'll try to find for you.
Adding birds to an existing flock is a gamble, especially if birds are younger. We'll try to help you come June.
Flock members may seem sweet to each other but there is always a pecking order that once established, most of the birds will respect.
Chickens don't like interlopers. Instinctively, they try to run them off because the new birds will compete for food and water as well as possibly introducing disease.
It is always wise to have other housing options for quarantining new or sick/injured birds and as isolation for broody hens.

 

[TwoCrows]

Excuse the poor quality of this pic, long before cell phone camera's, taken with a very old Pentax camera. Ha! BUT...these two full sized Aussies were attached at the hip all their lives, they squeezed into this nest box together all the time even while several other boxes were open for business!

 

[rusty acres]

I plan to raise the chicks in a wire cage inside the coop with the grown girls. I hope by the time they're feathered and I let them out they'll be familiar and ready to tolerate one another.

I used a converted wire dog kennel as an in-coop brooder. This article was a huge help in figuring out the set-up. I wouldn't introduce chickens using any other method now.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

 

[Chullicken]

I warn you with a giggle and a snort, this is elementary chicken behavior. You have yet to see the real complicated 'what in the world..' behavior that leaves your brain cracked and fragmented for days until you find an answer to the riddle. I've had chickens for years and a few years as a teenager, I just recently realized when my rooster crows to do a 'flock check', the hens let off a very simple and muted noise in return to let him know they are ok too. Or, everyone on any site has this magical 'they said' number for nest boxes per chicken, yet a lot of the time they'll all use just one. Still things I don't get, I just don't bother asking anyone about it. Like why does my rooster randomly peck his hens over food, but normally he gets it for them? Just little things you see when you sit out there with them and just watch, its one of the great things about the hobby or whatever reason you have chickens. Its a neat and dynamic life structure.