How do they know?

[Roddy]

Fascinating to me, the instinctual laying of eggs in the nests. Our girls are almost three months old, we'll uncover their nests in their coop in about a month but how in the world do they know that it's there they are to lay their eggs. And the golfball trick..... how do they even know what that is when they've yet to lay one?
Fascinating, these birds. It's honestly that instinctual?
Pleasantly perplexed...
Roddy

 

[CarriBrown]

Instinct, I suppose. But the golfball trick does in fact work!
Sometimes you'll get a defiant hen who lays where ever she pleases, but for the most part, they'll pick the most comfortable and private spot.

 

[barg]

I'm still astonished by the fact that my 2 australorps hang out together and my 2 dominiques hang out together, (when the 4 arent all in one group)... all kept together from the time they were day old chicks They not only know one breed from another they know which breed they are... weird.
Oh except for when one of the australorps is doing her, "Im my own chicken thing" and doing things without the other 3, thats weird too.