Backyard Fowl Keepers

Hi everyone,

Im looking for some insight on a strange behavior from our 5-year-old Pekin Bantam. We recently brought her inside because she seemed a little down, and with the cold weather, we didnt want to take any chances. A vet check didnt reveal anything major, just a slight noise in her lungs. On their advice, were keeping her indoors for now, giving her some extra care until the weather improves.

She seems to be doing well, her eyes are bright, no discharge, no sneezing, and shes eating and drinking as usual. Her droppings look normal, and overall, she appears alert and content.

However, shes developed an odd habit. She does a little "tap tap" with her feet, always two taps, first with one foot, then after a moment, the other foot. It doesnt seem to affect her walking, and I even saw her stretch her leg backward normally, so she has full mobility. Could her foot feathers be irritating her, or is this a sign of something else?

Has anyone seen this kind of behavior before? Should I be concerned, or is this just one of those quirky chicken things? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Have you checked her feet for any signs of bumblefoot or scaly leg mites? Sometimes irritation from those can cause unusual foot movements. If she's tapping consistently, it might be worth a closer look.

My bantam started doing something similar before I realized her claws had grown a bit too long. Have you checked if she needs a trim? It might just be her way of trying to adjust her footing.

Sounds like she's getting spoiled with her indoor stay! Some chickens develop little habits when their routine changes. I'd say just keep monitoring her, and hopefully, she settles back in once she returns to the flock.131 It's definitely possible that the pine shavings are causing respiratory issues, especially if they are not properly dried or if they contain a lot of dust. Some types of pine (especially fresh-cut or green wood) can release strong fumes that irritate chickens' lungs.

Could it be related to temperature changes? Sometimes chickens lift their feet or shift them if they're too cold or even too warm. If she's in a different environment, she might just be getting used to it.

It's great that she's stretching her legs normally. Maybe try placing her on different surfaces like a towel, straw, or a rug to see if she reacts differently.

It could just be a harmless quirk! Some chickens develop little habits when they're in a new environment. Keep an eye on her, but if she's eating, drinking, and acting normal otherwise, she's probably fine.

Could she have stepped in something sticky or irritating? Sometimes dried poop or bedding can get stuck on foot feathers, and chickens will do little foot taps to shake it off.

Since she's eating, drinking, and acting normal otherwise, it's likely not serious. Maybe she's just enjoying the attention and has found a way to keep you guessing!

Is she perching at all? If she's standing on a hard surface instead of a roost, it could be mild discomfort. Maybe try giving her a soft towel or a perch to see if that changes the behavior.