Why does my hen do this??

[Bec]

I have one special little red hen that just isn't quite all there. When she hatched, she was very slow moving and I didn't think she would make it, but she did! As she grew she would run into walls and stuff..lol. Now that she is a fine young pullet, she only runs into things at night (like your legs, coop legs, fence) She hasn't laid any eggs yet, but is the oldest of the young group..everyone else lays.
Now I just can't figure out why she drinks only off her back. She sticks her beak in the water, puts her beak on her back and then she drinks the water droplets off her back! Why would she do this?? Everyone else drinks normal, you know, stick beak in, tip head back, suck down the water...

 

[congdon476]

Is she blind?

 

[omelette'smom]

That's weird! Does she have a tongue?

 

[JennsPeeps]

She's just a unique bird. I wouldn't worry about it.

One of my coworkers had a chicken when she was growing up. This chicken had suffered a head injury of some kind, so must have seen the world upside down. To compensate, she walked about with her hear upside down. Healthy, happy, too dumb to know better.

 

[Jenski]

I have a "special" chicken, too ~ an Ameraucana mix hen. I believe she is blind in one eye, and can only really see far-away things well with the other. . . thus the running into things, etc., especially in low light. She also likes climbing into very small spaces, which often results in her getting stuck.

Baby was my last hen to start laying, but because of this she came to a good size ~ and she also now lays the biggest eggs. I have a soft spot for my goofy chicken!

Your girl may have trouble swallowing ~ or she may just like the way the water droplets look dribbling down her back. As long as she is getting enough food and water and she looks OK, I would just enjoy her funny ways.

Baby Mija looking confused

 

[Bec]

I will try to get a video of her doing this. She also scoops food up in her mouth really fast. I know she can see ok, but maybe it isn't really good. I lover her very much no matter how goofy she is!