chickens wont leave the straw in the nesting boxes????

[pen]

My chickens are acting strange. For the past four months or so they empty all of the straw out of their nesting boxes until there is nothing left. They are sitting on raw boards laying their eggs. As soon as I put new straw in the boxes they empty them out again. Is this any cause for concern?

Also, two of my chickens are bald on the back of their necks. We are seeing feathers everywhere. I think they are getting picked on. We have 11 chickens and only one rooster. The feathers are gone down to their bare skin. I have no idea what is going on. Any ideas? Penny

 

[Megan Amber]

My chickens rake the hay out too. They are just playing and being curious,looking for bugs and stuff! Annoying..I Know.. The chickens with feathers plucked out could either be the roosters favorites and there for losing feathers from too much breeding or they are the roosters least favorites and are getting picked on by all the other hens. I might would get another rooster. That would probably solve both problems!

 

[BunkyB]

Yep they can be a pain in the butt scratching through the nesting boxes looking for tid bits. It's like a social disease with hens. One hen sees another do it and what the hay lets give this a shot and sure enough it catches on and empty boxes all over the place. Just be persistand and remake the boxes, make sure no put feed in a box for their special hen cuz that happens alot with kids.
If this happens the hen thinks it found another food source thus frustrating you that much more. Keep packing the boxes, make sure there is scratch or feed on the floor for them to peck at. They eventually stop destroying the nests and rely on scratching on the floor.
Happens to lots of people Steve

 

[Fred's Hens]

Putting a 3" lip on the front of the nests also helps keep the bedding in place.