Chickens Burrowing

[WV_Chicken]

I got my first "egg" yesterday, but unfortunately they dropped it from their roosting bar and it broke when it landed on the water dispenser. This morning, I noticed that several of my hens are burrowing down in the pine shavings on the floor. They refuse to use the nesting boxes that I built. Is this burrowing behavior because they are nesting and ready to lay eggs or is it simply to keep them warm? Thanks.

 

[gritsar]

Are they wiggling around and throwing shavings on their backs? Sounds like dustbathing to me. My adult hens are in their favorite dustbathing hole this morning, throwing dirt everywhere. My pullets are also dustbathing, in the shavings of their coop.

 

[Judy]

When I checked on my broody and chicks a while ago, she was doing the same thing. What was cute was, some of the chicks had holllowed out their own spots and were asleep in them, too. This is in a dirt floor coop, in 60 degree weather; the mama had moved a fair amount of dirt. The flock was out in the sun; some were dustbathing, too.

I don't know what they're up to.