Do chickens engage in play behaviour?

[speethechicken]

I'm raising one rescue chick in a brooder in my room; it's about 4 weeks old now, so I've started leaving the brooder open so it can wander around my room while I work. It... seems to be enjoying it? It's definitely partaking in lots of normal behaviours like scratching and perching, but I've also noticed a lot of random bursts of energy; it'll occassionally flap its wings or crouch down and run in excited little circles, or jump up on the brooder and down again while cheeping rapidly for no apparent reason. It could just be because I'm so used to seeing this kind of behaviour in baby goats, but... it looks like play behaviour to me? Which strikes me as odd - I don't think chickens are known at all for 'playing'.
Was wondering if this is just a benign quirk of this particular pullet/cockerel or if it may be indicative of some stress? Perhaps because it doesn't have enough space, or it's lonely? Not sure. Would welcome any thoughts or anecdotes of your own chickens 'playing'!

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Chickens totally play : D especially as chicks!

 

[speethechicken]

Chickens totally play : D especially as chicks!

Oh! That's so cute - I had no idea!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'm raising one rescue chick in a brooder in my room; it's about 4 weeks old now, so I've started leaving the brooder open so it can wander around my room while I work. It... seems to be enjoying it? It's definitely partaking in lots of normal behaviours like scratching and perching, but I've also noticed a lot of random bursts of energy; it'll occassionally flap its wings or crouch down and run in excited little circles, or jump up on the brooder and down again while cheeping rapidly for no apparent reason. It could just be because I'm so used to seeing this kind of behaviour in baby goats, but... it looks like play behaviour to me? Which strikes me as odd - I don't think chickens are known at all for 'playing'.
Was wondering if this is just a benign quirk of this particular pullet/cockerel or if it may be indicative of some stress? Perhaps because it doesn't have enough space, or it's lonely? Not sure. Would welcome any thoughts or anecdotes of your own chickens 'playing'!

My adult birds occasionally run around, flapping their wings when I let them out to eat grass. They'll play around like this for a minute, or two. They'll also jump flapping their wings sometimes.

Chicks play more often then adult birds. I had one chick that loved to play fight with my hands.

 

[Chookchicken]

My chickens spend a fair amount of the day playing with each other. As much as chickens aren’t known for being playful they are extremely playful little things.

 

[MysteryChicken]

The Bantams have a xylophone they love to play with. Musical little birds.

 

[speethechicken]

The Bantams have a xylophone they love to play with. Musical little birds.

I would KILL to see a video of this

 

[MysteryChicken]

I would KILL to see a video of this

There's videos on YouTube, just non of mine, I haven't had the chance to record them.

 

[AntiqueB]

I agree that chicks play more, but adults do, too, to some extent. They will chase us if we run, and sometimes chase each other. Since it doesn't end in pecking, I assume they just feel like running.