Chicken somersault?

[jewel1]

So, my barred rock (Lucy) is pretty new to laying, and the other day, she did something funny.

I opened up the hen house door and it must have been jsut after she had laid an egg (still very warm). She was standing just in front of it, looking confused. She kicked at it once behind her like when scratching for food, then bent her head down...stuck it between her legs, and started pecking the egg while it was behind her (so with her head still between her legs). After a vigorous peck or two, the force of it caused her to do a somersault and land on her back, feet up!

She was a bit disoriented for a moment..then life got back to normal.

I wish I could have caught it on video! Anyone else have experience with chickens really pecking or kicking the eggs they lay? I thought they'd want to be gentle with them...but maybe not!

 

[Wisher1000]

That was funny! Watch her closely, it may be that she is just not used to laying (maybe?) but if she breaks the eggs and tastes the inside (yummy!) you will have an egg eater on your hands and that is really bad. It is hard to break them from it and will teach other chickens to do it as well. Some egg eaters will never stop once they start. Good luck!