Do Chickens Stalk?

[Sean-PC]

One of my BR's (about 5-6 weeks old) will get her head low to the ground and stalk. At least I think that's what she's doing. Then she'll run around doing some crazy dance.

What's up with that?

 

[MoodyChicken]

It's a challenge! Does she caulk her tail to one side or shake her head when she does that? I have one hen who, as soon as she sees me, sits down and army crawls towards me, all the while shaking her head. Then when she gets real close, she leaps up and pecks my toe once. Then she's done and returns to her normal chickeny routine.

But... it also sounds like you have a roo. Roos do the creep and dance all the time, hens only do it when they're at the top, and they don't usually dance.

 

[Sean-PC]

(S)he doesn't do it to me so much as other chicks. (S)he is definitely NOT the top of the house. I have an Australorp that is very much the head hen.
It makes sense that it'd be a Roo, smaller than the rest. Combs redder and tail feathers are shorter. She's almost always the first to spot trouble, but won't run. She'll stand up and make these odd noises.
One of the delawares will do the same.


All and all, chickens do some odd stuff.

 

[MoodyChicken]

Definitely sounds like a roo to me!

Indeed, chickens can be very odd.

 

[Jena]

But aren't they fun to watch.