Chicken Throws Grass on Its Back

[Beau plus penny]

idk for me it justs means this is mine or sometimes broodies do this

 

[WingItRanch]

I've caught several of my hens in the nest box tossing a piece of straw or shavings on their back. It's probably a similar reasoning on why they like to lay in the nest with the most eggs. Safety in numbers and "camouflage."

Edited to add: I have seen both broody and non-broody hens do this.

 

[KWestVA]

Ditto - I was just about to post this question when I saw this thread! My pullet ineffectively tosses bedding on her back when she's laying her egg. Maybe some sort of pre-domestication instinctive behavior? I have a similar question about chickens pecking/biting fingers in front of their face, no matter how docile and friendly they usually are. I'm not 100% sold on the "they think it's treats" theory because I've read that chicken's visual acuity is actually better than human's. Does anyone have any scientific references on these behaviors?

P.S. These questions come from a place of super science nerdiness.

 

[debid]

Their eyes are on the side of their heads. They have amazing vision to the sides and one eye is fine tuned for distance while the other for near vision. But when it comes to things directly in front of them, they frequently miss the target. Don't believe me? Watch them scratch up small worms in leaf litter. They see that tiny motion that you might miss, they see the worm that is almost the same color as the leaf. But then they miss when they go to grab it and it will frequently take multiple attempts.

If you hold out food in your fingers, they are just as likely to peck a finger as the food they were trying to get.

But, that doesn't mean they love you, only that they didn't misunderstand which part of what they were seeing was the food. They absolutely mean to get a bite of you when they peck your scab.

Oh, and yes, they are trying to camouflage. It's funny when you use mats instead, they will tug at the mat and get nothing but that instinct persists.

 

[KWestVA]

Their eyes are on the side of their heads. They have amazing vision to the sides and one eye is fine tuned for distance while the other for near vision. But where it comes to things directly in front of them, they frequently miss the target. Don't believe me? Watch them scratch up small worms in leaf litter. They see that tiny motion that you might miss, they see the worm that is almost the same color as the leaf. But then they miss when they go to grab it and it will frequently take multiple attempts.

If you hold out food in your fingers, they are just as likely to peck a finger as they food they were trying to get.

But, that doesn't mean they love you, only that they didn't misunderstand which part of what they were seeing was the food. They absolutely mean to get a bite of you when they peck your scab.

Thank you - that makes total sense!

 

[WingItRanch]

Their eyes are on the side of their heads. They have amazing vision to the sides and one eye is fine tuned for distance while the other for near vision. But when it comes to things directly in front of them, they frequently miss the target. Don't believe me? Watch them scratch up small worms in leaf litter. They see that tiny motion that you might miss, they see the worm that is almost the same color as the leaf. But then they miss when they go to grab it and it will frequently take multiple attempts.

If you hold out food in your fingers, they are just as likely to peck a finger as the food they were trying to get.

But, that doesn't mean they love you, only that they didn't misunderstand which part of what they were seeing was the food. They absolutely mean to get a bite of you when they peck your scab.

Oh, and yes, they are trying to camouflage. It's funny when you use mats instead, they will tug at the mat and get nothing but that instinct persists.

Agreed! I thought one of my hens was blind because she just couldn't seem to pick a worm up that was right in front of her. I was really worried. Then I watched the others and they often peck around the item in front of them too until they hit the mark. I noticed if it's big enough, they'll pin it with a claw and then go to town on devouring it.

 

[Lizzyduff]

Their eyes are on the side of their heads. They have amazing vision to the sides and one eye is fine tuned for distance while the other for near vision. But when it comes to things directly in front of them, they frequently miss the target. Don't believe me? Watch them scratch up small worms in leaf litter. They see that tiny motion that you might miss, they see the worm that is almost the same color as the leaf. But then they miss when they go to grab it and it will frequently take multiple attempts.

If you hold out food in your fingers, they are just as likely to peck a finger as the food they were trying to get.

But, that doesn't mean they love you, only that they didn't misunderstand which part of what they were seeing was the food. They absolutely mean to get a bite of you when they peck your scab.

Oh, and yes, they are trying to camouflage. It's funny when you use mats instead, they will tug at the mat and get nothing but that instinct persists.

So my sweet girl completely intended to peck my eyeball when she flew up to my shoulder the other day... what a wee $h*tling... I don't allow shoulder chickens anymore now...

Also- pink eye is really awful.

 

[KWestVA]

So my sweet girl completely intended to peck my eyeball when she flew up to my shoulder the other day... what a wee $h*tling... I don't allow shoulder chickens anymore now...

Also- pink eye is really awful.

My pullet totally prefers "parrot perching". She hasn't ever bitten me, but if I try to pick her up around the sides, she flails until she gets into a better position. Love (not) having huge chicken wings battering my face! Also, my most serious chicken injuries have resulted from her unintentional clawing - cockerel bites are not even in the running.