Chicken putting shaving on her back?

[mradam]

I was watching my chickens today, and I noticed something funny. On of them was getting ready to lay an egg (they just started laying a few days ago) and she started walking around in the coop, picking up the wood shavings and throwing them onto her back. About ten minutes later she had laid an egg. I haven't seen this behavior before and was curious if this is normal?

---It WAS funny to see!

My chickens are about 22 weeks old (RIR's)

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sometimes they do that when they're gonna go broody, but maybe she's trying to camouflage herself to be safe to lay her egg.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
One of Silkie hens does the same thing. Picks up one shaving at a time and puts in on her back.... Its quite entertaining. Especially when you consider I'm stealing her egg seconds after she lays it.... HAHA!

 

[silkiechicken]

It's normal. Mine do it at least, regardless if they've ever been broody or have tendency to do so.