Pulling at straw bails and putting it on their backs?

[packer fan]

I understand that a chicken in a nest may lay an egg then start to pull straw over her back while in nest but some of my chickens have been leaving the nest pulling at the straw bails and placing it over their backs. They aren't eating it or anything they are just standing there pulling at the straw and trying to place it on their backs. Why?

I know it's a strange question.

 

[rainy hen lady]

mine do the same thing !! mostly my buff orpingtons,but some jersy giants as well do it.....hmmm ? ide like to know too

 

[Happy Chooks]

It's a nesting instinct. They are making their nest with it.

 

[rainy hen lady]

but on their backs ??? crazy chooks

 

[Happy Chooks]

but on their backs ??? crazy chooks

Yep, on their backs. If one of mine gets kicked out of the nest, she will walk around the coop picking up shavings and putting them on her back until she can get back in the nest.

 

[packer fan]

That does make sense.

Now, is it an indicator of posable broodiness?

My chickens fight over an old sink I have in my season room. They'll use the dogie door to go in and if one is sitting to long the other will lay on top of her or next to her to get into the sink. I have two bails next to the sink and they have since started to lay their eggs in it. I have had eight eggs laid in two nests and they're not privet places. I have comfortable privet nesting boxes off the coop and some do use it but they think they need to lay in my season room.

I have 15 pullets that lay about dz a day.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Some of my hens do it after them & the bittys jump out of the nest and are sleeping on the ground. Some kind of nesting instinct.

 

[coffeychicks]

My broody do this. Usually to camouflage them selves. It is part of the nesting instinct

 

[Jajika]

Wow---that is wild. I've never seen that?

 

[ChickenLegs13]

We spend a lot of time with our birds and notice stuff that most people don't.