Why Chickens Scrape, Nod and Peck

All about chicken behaviour, habits and quirks

Chicken behaviour under the microscope: Why do chickens do what they do? And why do they often not do what we want them to? Observing chickens is both relaxing and fun – some behaviours will be familiar to every chicken keeper, while others are bound to perplex and surprise. One thing is certain, though – chicken behaviour is never boring. And, not least, chickens are anything but stupid.

With a great deal of humour, Antje Krause and Wilhelm Bauer explain how our chickens spend their long days: they scrape and peck, eat and drink, sunbathe and wallow in the dust, preen themselves and doze, grow and learn, entertain themselves, and much more besides. A wealth of exceptional photographs document many of these behaviours, but not all – sometimes chickens are just too quick!