[chickencoop]

When my chickens emerge from the nesting box (after laying an egg) they walk around picking up twigs and seemingly throwing them over their back, they only do this for a few seconds and not all the time -- can anyone explain this? :?:

[Wildeone]

I'd be a tad stroppy if I had to 'pass' a watermelon everyday just after breakfast too!  :shock:

[Vember]

I'd be a tad stroppy if I had to 'pass' a watermelon everyday just after breakfast too!  :shock:

 

I think it's nest building mine do it in the nest box too
 By the way - Welcome to the forum

[Wildeone]

I'd be a tad stroppy if I had to 'pass' a watermelon everyday just after breakfast too!  :shock:

 

I think it's nest building mine do it in the nest box too
 By the way - Welcome to the forum

Oops sorry forgot my manners didn't notice you were new - Welcome to the Hen house!  

[Aunt Sally]

It's  the remnants of nest building behaviour I'd think.

[poultrygeist]

Fascinating what remnants of wild behaviour are still left as instincts but with no purpose.

Rob

[Vember]

Crumb my Goose does it too but she carrys on for about half an hour, just wondering an picking up twigs.
 The nest is no-where near her by the time she finishes  

Maybe it's her way of finding the nest again. Follows the trail of twigs

 

[poultrygeist]

Maybe it's to lead you away from the nest because some b*gger keeps pinching all the eggs !!  

Rob

[Foxy]

Fascinating what remnants of wild behaviour are still left as instincts but with no purpose.

Rob

Any examples Rob??    

[poultrygeist]

I was thinking of that as an immediate example but things like a cat or dog trampling in circles before settling.
Mere instinct obviously but not of any use to them in a domestic environment.

Just the sort of thing that fascinates me.  :roll:

Rob

[mdueal]

Why does our older dog 'brake dance' after he has been for a wee (am i allowed to say that  :oops: ) He does this vigourous wiping his feet movement??? The younger dog doesnt do it at all

[poultrygeist]

Ours does that too. Has done for years. He wipes his back legs and churns the grass up. We thought he was copying the cat after she'd been in the veg patch !

Presume it's similar reasons to cover where they've been but why some and not others ?

I think animal psychology is almost as interesting as human. Certainly not as complicated and contradictory.  

Rob

[Vember]

Why does our older dog 'brake dance' after he has been for a wee (am i allowed to say that  :oops: ) He does this vigourous wiping his feet movement???

He feels better for "going"  so does a little dance

[poultrygeist]

 

[mercury]

Why does our older dog 'brake dance' after he has been for a wee (am i allowed to say that  :oops: ) He does this vigourous wiping his feet movement??? The younger dog doesnt do it at all

I've heard two reasons for this behaviour, one is, territorial marking, the other is to hide their scent, i think i go with the territory marking, that is, unless anyone knows different