Crazy SLW

[WindingRoad]

Both of my SLW 22 months old are laying. Very small eggs. 45-50 grams Cream colored. They take along time to lay. Clucking, scratching, and checking out all 3 nest boxes. But the weirdest thing they do after they scratch most of the pine shaving out is pick up a shaving and toss it over themselves, like they are trying to cover themselves up. And just now I went out to pick up my FOURTH egg for the day and Louise (SLW) had laid and was walking around the coop picking up shavings and throwing them back and over herself. What is that all about????

 

[Shadowfire]

When hens are getting ready to lay their egg, or when they are broody, they will throw straw or other bedding over their backs. It's completely normal.

 

[WindingRoad]

When hens are getting ready to lay their egg, or when they are broody, they will throw straw or other bedding over their backs. It's completely normal.

ha good to know. It's just funny that they scratch all the shavings out of the nest and then they try to cover themselves up. My BO and ISAB don't do that. Can my SLW at 22 months be getting broody.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Very normal. Part of it is thought to be about camouflaging (given the noise they make while doing it, this is rather funny) as naturally they would be nesting on the ground and are quite vulnerable at that time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yup, it's very normal. They don't all do it and not all the time, but it's always entertaining to watch the hardcore ones do it, since they'll end up walking out with some bits of nesting material balanced on their backs.

 

[RodNTN]

All of my hens do the exact same thing