hen picking grass and putting on her back

[tuffy]

I have never seen this question on here~ does anyone know why my hen picks grass, leaves and twigs and turns her head to put the litter on her back? I have 2 hens that do this. They usually do it when they are first let out to free range. ??

 

[chicks4kids]

Some of my hens do that when they are laying eggs.......I think it's just one of those things that they do.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

LOL that sounds so adorable. I don't know why they do it, but I have read here, and seen an actual picture, of a hen that poked things in her feathers like twigs and grass. Was really strange indeed!

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Mine do that in the nest box or after laying.

 

[hkwdesign]

One of my chickens does this with the straw (on the ground) after she lays her egg - it's very quirky!

 

[roverjohn]

A couple of mine do it before they lay. I thought it was some sort of weird nest building ritual.

 

[BrewedInNh]

Quote:
Sounds like they're camouflaging themselves. Are they comando chickens?

 

[schatze17]

Mine do it in the nesting box just before laying the egg. I figured it was something to distract them from the labor pains.

 

[Hawyandotte]

I wonder if it's an instinctual camouflage tactic. If they were in the wild laying in a nest it would help them blend in with their surroundings. Just a thought.

 

[sheila3935]

a few of mine do it after they lay