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dumb hen: possibly a neurological or mobility issue?

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Hey there, feathered friends enthusiasts! Today, I’m reaching out for a little cluck-tastic insight on my “dumb” chicken—she's finally discovered mealworms, but there's a quirky twist! It seems she only goes for them when they're all huddled together in the bucket. When I scatter them on the ground or hide them in the grass, she either ignores them or pecks at the ground around them, as if they’ve gone incognito! She eats from the feeder just fine, but foraging seems to be a real challenge. I’m starting to wonder if there's a neurological issue at play or perhaps a problem with her depth perception. Sadly, I don’t have any chicken-savvy vets nearby.
dumb hen: possibly a neurological or mobility issue?
dumb hen: possibly a neurological or mobility issue?

hello! i’m presenting my dumb chicken once again. she’s discovered mealies finally, however she’s displaying this weird behavior where she isn’t pecking the worms directly, unless they’re in the bucket and all in one spot. i’ve tried putting mealies in grass and it’s the same issue where she ignores them, but if she sees them in the bucket she’ll go over to it and peck at them.

is this a possible neurological issue i have to worry about? she eats from the feeder just fine, but any type of food that is on the ground or has to be foraged is hard for her. she either doesn’t acknowledge it or bites the ground around her. hand feeding don’t work either, she just raises her head over the food. either neurological or maybe something is wrong with her depth perception, to where she can’t see food when it’s in front of her VS below her?

if anyone has any experience please share. i also don’t have any vets near me that specialize in chickens so i can’t take her anywhere to get diagnosed

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#chickens#fear of chickens#chicken behavior#chicken breeds#chicken myths#chicken anatomy#chicken eggs#bird behavior#dumb hen#neurological issue#mobility issue#mealies#depth perception#pecking#strange chicken behavior#food recognition#behavioral issues#foraging#ground food#ignored food