My silkie likes pine shavings she puts them on her back. Why?

[Della333]

When my silkie gets in the nest she will pick up bits of pine shaving and flick them up on to her
back .....sometimes I've seen her walk around in the run and flick twigs and leaves up on her back too.

What is she doing ? She is the most bird brained chicken I have. Broody every couple of weeks, but very sweet.

We laugh at her when she's scratching the ground... we ca pick her up and se will still act like she's on the ground scratching.
Oh my.

We are really confused by the stuff up on her back though.

 

[Cackling Hen]

My Cochin girls do the same with the pine shavings I have always wonderd why

 

[henney penny]

Some of my girl do that to when they are in the nesting box

 

[lex381]

never seen that before! maybe she's trying to keep warm lol

 

[FlockMama]

 

[newchicksnducks]

My girls did that when they first began to lay eggs. I think it is a nesting instinct.

 

[Jacob42]

Most of our hens will put shavings on their backs when they are laying eggs, not sure why but they seem to think it helps. What is really funny is I can hold my silkie rooster like a baby. He will let me lay him back and cradle him in my arms! He is a goofy bird

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Quote:
Yup, she's not bird-brained, she just very in tune with her nesting instict. I've had hens walk around outside and collect only the twigs and/or straw that they *feel* is the best to decorate their nest with. Some can be very, very picky about what they pick up. They get very trance-like and focused. Sometimes I'll hand them a peice of straw at random and if they deem it worthy, they'll take it from me and put in on their back.

And if not, they take it from me and drop it on the ground and continue looking.

But most of the time the material doesn't make it back to the nest and falls of, and by the time the hens settles back down, she forgot she ever collected anything. Such odd animals-truely fascinating.

 

[squeakyballs]

Mine put shavings on their backs, too.

Jacob42, that is the cutest thing ever!

I wish some of mine were that friendly! I picked all friendly breeds, and let the silkies raise them... they are 2 months old now and come running for treats, but cry and cry if I pick them up. :-( Any tips?

 

[Jacob42]

He is actually very tempermental and will jump at legs sometimes but likes to be held. We have a few that dont like to be held, it just seems to be part of their own personality, we have a huge rooster that loves hugs, we have a fussy favorelle that hates to be touched. We have 4 babies 2 like to be held 2 hate to be touched. they are all different