hens shredding nesting material

[centrarchid]

I have been noticing my hens when incubating a clutch of eggs tend to shred nesting material. My nests are boxes with a sandy loam soil added to buffer changes in humidity and red winter wheat straw for insulation. As eggs are being laid, a depression or nest bowl is maintained. Once incubation gets underway, straw appears to become finely shredded like what you would expect material in a robins nest to look.

 

[bryan99705]

Could they be softening what's being supplied in the nest for the chicks since they don't go out collecting materials?

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Could be. It also maybe a better insulator when shredded, making it easier for hen to keep clutch warm.

As for not being inclined to collect materials, I am going to put that to test with next brood. Hen I am observing now is a red jungle fowl. They do things differently than domestics, even in respect to nesting activities. I am surprised they nest in elevated locations though. In nature seems ground nesting would be rule.