hey, just recently, our 7 chickens started roaming away from the coop area(our chickens just started to free range and explore) anyway, we have this giant short-needled pine tree a few feet from our coop and they love to scratch around and peck under the tree. i want to know, has anyone else encountered this behavior or heard of it? is it normal for chickens to want to play under the branches that reach the ground?
Absolutely normal. Mine play under trees, bushes, my husband's truck, the back hoe, in the garden, in my flowers, under my husband's boat, IN my husband's boat...... Well you get the idea. They play everywhere. You have normal chickens!
I agree - totally normal and not only are there good bugs, but they feel safer and more sheltered there. I don't think they're all that crazy about being out in the wide open where anything could get them at any moment. Granted, they will get used to it (we only have an open grassy area for them with only baby trees right now), but mine like to graze under anything... brambles, shrubs, etc.
lisa said it,,,,shelter. Mine like it in the summer for the cool shade and bugs and a place to go quick if a hawk is flying above. Normal. BTW
I have to call mine home sometimes for treats because they are out playing in the woods. They stay out there all day in the summer
