Backwards on the Egg Nest?

[wild chick]

Just curious, I have a pullet (EE) that has always sat in the egg nest facing the wall with her tail sticking out. I figured she would eventually figure out to turn around, but it's been about 2 months now. Doesn't matter if she gets in a nest with the one fake egg or after others have made it a nest with 3 or 4 eggs, she sits facing the corner & the egg comes out on the edge of the nest. I guess it's harmless, but in 3 years with new pullets every year I've never seen this. Also she spends her time in there pecking the straw in the corner and makes a little hole in the straw. Equivalent of twiddling thumbs to pass the time?

 

[Peppercorngal]

Chickens are funny. Seems this hen is just different. I have straw in my boxes and some of my hens (mostly my EE's!) love to move it around and make a mess out if it. They always make a big hole in the back of the box with the straw like a wall in front! I guess your hen thinks she is in a private room when facing the wall. At least she's using the nesting box!

 

[wild chick]

@Peppercorngal she's my first and only EE and has a wonderful personality. When I get the chicken math under control I want more of them! She lays a cream colored egg, was sooo hoping for blue or green, but the eggs are big, already 2.3 ounces (about 65 grams).

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Chickens do the darndest things......she problaly enjoys her privacy that way. I have a hen that likes to lay on top of another in the nesting box while laying! She has lots of other boxes to lay in, but...NO! Haha!

 

[wild chick]

Pictures for your amusement:

 

[rosemarythyme]

"If I can't see you, you can't see me!"

 

[Brahmachicken240]

They all have their own little personalities don’t they.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Pictures for your amusement:
View attachment 1689712 View attachment 1689716

She's very pretty! I'd love to have more EE's as well. My three lay blue eggs for me and I'd love to have more colored eggs!

 

[aart]

I have a few that do that, not consistently, but still...it is kinda funny.
Some will also dig holes in the straw, pecking in corners of nest box, especially of there's still grain in it......or I like the 'twiddling their thumbs' analogy.
Then there's the picking up straw and putting it on their backs, before or after laying, some do it some do not...again, amusing.

 

[Peppercorngal]

For the first time today I found two hens in the "favorite" nest box. While they were settling in another one was standing looking at them and chattering for them to "get on with it" "I'm next and don't want to wait". She did get tired of waiting and got the nest next to the "favorite". It took a good 10 to 20 minutes for one of the chickens in the "favorite" nest to finish and leave. While this was going on, a Wyandotte came in the coop, jumped in a box and in less than 2 minutes laid her egg and jumped out of the box and ran out the door! They are all so different, that's what I love about chickens!