Chicken using a stick as a tool

[Bryan2813]

I saw our chicken use a stick to scratch herself
Is this common behaviour

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
No. It is not. I'd like to see a video of that!

 

[Bryan2813]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
No. It is not. I'd like to see a video of that!

My girlfriend was the one who spotted it and then showed me. I saw it do it 3 times but apparently was doing it for a while. I will ensure I take phone out with me in future. I thought primates were the only animal to use a tool. That said she is the craftiest and bravest of all our chickens (always escaping in an adventure on her own)

 

[DobieLover]

I thought primates were the only animal to use a tool.

Corvids are well know for problem solving with tools.

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Welcome to BackYard Chickens. And a Big Hello from Eastern Nebraska !

 

[MadGardener]

Very interesting! I'd also love to see video.

Tool usage has been reported in porpoises, elephants, octopuses and some fish.

Also consider ants raising livestock (aphids), and farming fungus. Beavers building dams, and the impact thathas on their environment (lots of interesting findings after wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone).

Humans have been trying to think of themselves as separate and superior to the animal kingdom for so long. But the more we learn, the more this concept is open to questioning. I for one welcome this perspective shift.

Welcome to BYC, and thanks for sharing this!

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC.

 

[silverhair67]

I'd like to see that one myself,

 

[Grammy60]

Hello Bryan and welcome to BYC

 

[featherhead007]

A chicken who uses a back scratcher… very interesting!
Welcome to the coop!