Nesting behavior

[ChxLadyCass]

I am curious if this is odd behavior. I have 9 hens of laying maturity and am getting one egg or less a day (sudden winter temps and molting I assume). But I've also noticed that in the 4 nesting boxes, the chickens are moving around in the boxes and sometimes hiding the golf balls in there. It looks like they are seriously trying to nest, even though they aren't laying. Or like they are digging around looking for something. Is this behavior odd?

Notes: coop is about 64 square feet. 1 pullet, 1 roosters and 9 hens. 2 of the hens were just introduced last weekend. Some of these behaviors were happening before these two were introduced, but not as much.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Maybe there's bugs in there that they're searching for? I get large spiders in my nest box and I know some of my chickens love going after them.

Are the newest birds already at point of lay, or just close to it? Young layers usually like to kick things around nests in the days/weeks before they're ready to lay.

 

[aart]

One of the best signs that eggs are on their way.
They can tear up a nest but good until they lay a few eggs,
then they usually stop tearing them up so much IME.

Tho I had one hen that got all neurotic and tore the nests up everyday for months.
Never did figure out why, seeds in straw, and there had been some broken egg issues..but she used to be my mellowest layer until I did the spring segregation(3-4 birds at a time spend a couple days in coop partition) it was after that this behavior started. She stopped when she molted, I hope she doesn't continue it when she comes back into lay.

Could be one of your new birds...or just integration stress.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Thank you for the insights!

Tho I had one hen that got all neurotic and tore the nests up everyday for months.
Never did figure out why, seeds in straw, and there had been some broken egg issues..but she used to be my mellowest layer until I did the spring segregation(3-4 birds at a time spend a couple days in coop partition)

Can you tell me more about this?? What is spring segregation? I am intrigued!

 

[aart]

What is spring segregation?

I did that to confirm who was laying what as I planned on selling a few birds.
I'd put 3-4 birds in my coop partition area for a couple days, keeping a close eye on them....after that process, the partition area held new chicks.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Great idea! I have 2 coops and am thinking of using one for that purpose! When you move hens and eggs to hatch out, do you move at the beginning or end of their brood and incubation period?

Update! I just went in the coop and found 2 eggs laid from the roosts! Both were frozen from the cold night. One didn't really have an eggshell, just a soft membrane coating. Is that new egg layer laying behavior? This is the first season of egg laying for most of my hens! Only 3 veteran layers left!

 

[aart]

I have 2 coops and am thinking of using one for that purpose! When you move hens and eggs to hatch out, do you move at the beginning or end of their brood and incubation period?

Well, the key is that the main coop is split with a temporary wire and wood wall, so they all remain in sight. Eliminates re-integration problems with the segregation....chicks are brooded in coop from about the first week and integration begins at about 4 weeks.

One didn't really have an eggshell, just a soft membrane coating. Is that new egg layer laying behavior?

Yes.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Thank you! That makes a lot of sense!