Chicken preening - whats normal?

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hey chicken friends! My 6 pullets free range for awhile and just like clockwork, they will all ‘take a break’ and all start preening themselves together before they begin exploring again. Is this a common chicken behavior? Thanks!

 

[GC-Raptor]

My chickens not only preen together, they sun bathe together and roost together even during the day.

Up high,

and down low. These girls are 13 weeks old. GC

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

My chickens not only preen together, they sun bathe together and roost together even during the day.View attachment 2794863View attachment 2794869View attachment 2794858
Up high,View attachment 2794864
and down low. These girls are 13 weeks old. GC

Awww! Do you have their nesting boxes set up yet GC?

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, it's normal for the flock to do the same thing at the same time.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Awww! Do you have their nesting boxes set up yet GC?

Not yet, I covered nests and will open at 15 weeks old with Ceramic eggs and offer Oyster Shells at the same time.

GC

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Not yet, I covered nests and will open at 15 weeks old with Ceramic eggs and offer Oyster Shells at the same time.View attachment 2795746View attachment 2795747 GC

Wow, those are some really nice look nest boxes. I feel like with the hay, mine are too short. :/

 

[GC-Raptor]

Wow, those are some really nice look nest boxes. I feel like with the hay, mine are too short. :/

I took some measurements for you this morning.

This is the coop I bought.

The coop I built, I made the nests about about 3" inches deeper.
The hay will compact when your pullets settle into nest. GC

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I took some measurements for you this morning.View attachment 2796177View attachment 2796178
This is the coop I bought.

The coop I built, I made the nests about about 3" inches deeper.
The hay will compact when your pullets settle into nest. GC

Ahh, ok. Yeah, mine are 12 inches tall as well. Thank you! Now for the oyster shells. Should i put ping pong balls in nest? I was planning for 2 curtains, but this one took a lot more time then I anticipated. I also didnt put partitions but wonder if I should have. The third pic is a little nest i made. Not sure if they’ll use it. I had too, lol. Reminds me of bird birds nest from sesame street, lol. Thanks for tips and sharing knowledge.

 

[3KillerBs]

Should i put ping pong balls in nest?

Ping-pong balls are awfully light and easily knocked out of the nests. I use golf balls, which have some weight to them.

I liked those instead of more egg-like fake eggs because I can reach under a hen and tell eggs from fakes by touch.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Ping-pong balls are awfully light and easily knocked out of the nests. I use golf balls, which have some weight to them.

I liked those instead of more egg-like fake eggs because I can reach under a hen and tell eggs from fakes by touch.

Yeah, i kinda figured that with the ping pong balls killer. I have a bunch of them lying around. Golf balls, not so much, I’d hate to go buy them, but whatever. I will. Wait……so I leave the golf balls even when they go in there to lay?