Hen putting weird items on her back??

[Roxyig]

One hen has been very vocal lately and with that, she is picking items up off the ground to balance them on her back. What is happening? She is eating, roosting, free ranging just fine. This behavior is on and off but she will grab clump of dead weed, dried leaves, grass etc and put it on her back. She takes a few steps - falls off. Then the process starts over. I am stumped with this behavior. She "talks" loudly the entire time. Each episode last about 40 mins. Nothing for a few days then she is back to placing debris on her back. Anyone else go through this?

 

[Tookie]

I've never heard of a chicken doing that! When she does it next could you get a video?

 

[Coops Dad]

She is hinting that she wants overalls and a hat.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

One hen has been very vocal lately and with that, she is picking items up off the ground to balance them on her back. What is happening?

Welcome to BYC!

She's getting ready to lay and practicing adjusting the nest material. Lots of hens actually do this! It may be part of their camouflage or maybe just for decoration.

 

[My Three Chicks]

Yes, my hens do that too! They do it when they are about to lay. They do it in their nest box. And they do it after they lay!

I have no idea why But it's pretty cute.

 

[Roxyig]

I've never heard of a chicken doing that! When she does it next could you get a video?

Yes I will. I asked some local chicken families and they haven't seen it either

 

[Roxyig]

She is hinting that she wants overalls and a hat.

If it was only that easy

 

[Roxyig]

Yes, my hens do that too! They do it when they are about to lay. They do it in their nest box. And they do it after they lay!

I have no idea why But it's pretty cute.

I will pay greater attention to that. Just weird that I have never seen that before

 

[KyCoop]

My broody girl will put shavings on her back when she is in the box. Maybe your girl is going broody?

 

[RoyalChick]

One hen has been very vocal lately and with that, she is picking items up off the ground to balance them on her back. What is happening? She is eating, roosting, free ranging just fine. This behavior is on and off but she will grab clump of dead weed, dried leaves, grass etc and put it on her back. She takes a few steps - falls off. Then the process starts over. I am stumped with this behavior. She "talks" loudly the entire time. Each episode last about 40 mins. Nothing for a few days then she is back to placing debris on her back. Anyone else go through this?

Mine do that all the time. Sort of building a nest (not very effectively)!