How does she move these?

[GA_in_GA]

My BCM has been laying about 2 weeks now. I put an egg shaped/sized river rock in each of 2 nesting boxes. I know I usually put one rock in each box. But some days I'd find both rocks in one nest. Thinking I'd just forgotten to put one back when I was cleaning out the box, I didn't ponder about the moving rock/eggs. But this morning, I paid attention. I cleaned out the coop and nesting boxes about 10 a.m., and made certain I moved the rock/eggs back one to each box. Went to check for our single egg of the day about 1 p.m. and the gal was still in the nest box. She did get up and there was her egg, and two rock/eggs.

My questions - how does a hen move the rock/eggs from one nest box to the other? By beak - her mouth is not that big! With her foot? There is a divider between the nests, that goes to the roof of the nestbox area.

And since we don't really know why the chicken crossed the road, is it pointless to ask why she does this?

 

[Babybella1111]

That's funny!

Wouldn't it be fun to set up a camera to see what they're doing in there?!

 

[GA_in_GA]

Quote:

If only I had the right type of camera.

 

[hennyannie]

I saw a hen move eggs from one box to the next, using her beak chest and wings.
BUT a rock I just can't see getting around with it so easy. She didn't crack the egg on the rock?

 

[LarryPQ]

Some hens will carry the eggs under their wings. It is how my broody cochins hide eggs when I am trying to break them.

 

[zookeeper15133]

I've seen them tuck it between their chin and chest.

 

[GA_in_GA]

Quote:
I worried about the rock, but then when I saw that other folks used ceramic eggs I decided to try the river rocks. Hardness level is about the same for both. The rocks are smooth and egg shaped, and so far we have not had a single crack in the eggs.

I guess the weight of the rock is nearly that or slightly heavier than a large egg - I'd love to see her move the rock!

 

[peepblessed]

What an amazing topic! My daughters bantums were moving their eggs everywhere, stealing all they could grab and others stealing them back again. I always thought they just rolled them. I never dreamed they could actually carry them!

 

[zookeeper15133]

My broody silkies fight over eggs so bad they break quite a few if I let them keep some!

 

[GA_in_GA]

Quote:
I thought they rolled them as well, but seeing the dividers I have in my coop and nesting box, rolling is just not possible. I wonder if there might be a film of this behavior?