Hen putting weird items on her back??

[rosemarythyme]

I see it on rare occasion, usually while they're sitting in the nests but once in a blue moon in the yard. Best guess is it's an attempt at camouflaging themselves while they're laying or just before/after.

 

[Aunt Angus]

My Silkie, Violet,puts all kinds of things on her back. That's my signal that she's going broody. Again. Because she's nearly always broody.

Feed
Oyster shells
Pine needles
Other chicken's feathers
Leaves
Pretty much anything she can find.

 

[tn_artist]

Mine do it when they are broody. They sit on their eggs and pull straw, shavings, feathers and such to them. They tuck it around themselves and on their backs. They build the sides of their nest up to contain the eggs best. I have no idea why they put in on themselves though unless its a throwback to being in the wild and trying to conceal themselves from predators while nesting.

 

[My Three Chicks]

I just got a video of one of mine doing it! She just laid an egg. Too funny!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I just got a video of one of mine doing it! She just laid an egg. Too funny!

Oh, she's too cute!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I just got a video of one of mine doing it! She just laid an egg. Too funny!

Adorable... don't tell her I can still see her past the 2 stalks of grass that managed to stay put for more than 3 seconds.

 

[Lainey-chick]

I have seen my chickens do this while on the nest and just after laying an egg.

 

[GRAMGRAM97]

I have a few that do that while in nesting box. So funny to watch!