Interesting (well maybe not) egg-laying behavior.

[Wolfpacker]

My second girl has started laying. When I was home at lunch today I watched her in the egg box. Just before she jumped down, she spent about five minutes picking up small pieces of pine shavings and putting them on her back. She alternated sides each time she did it.

Anyone seen such a thing before?

BTW, this was one of her first eggs and was long and skinny!

 

[speckledhen]

Mine do that all the time, like covering up their eggs before leaving the nest. Not sure why, but its pretty common in my flock. They also pull the straw closer around them before leaving the nest, like I have no idea that egg is right there, LOL.

 

[Wolfpacker]

It was fascinating and I couldn't imagine why she was doing it!

 

[speckledhen]

What I think is funny is when they leave the nest without laying and walk out into the pen, picking up pieces of straw and leaves and throwing them over their shoulders. Can't figure that one out at all, but when they were newbies, just before laying that very first egg, they'd do that, too.