What on EARTH are they doing?

[henney penny]

We have a lot of nesting boxes but this is what they do

 

[PunkinPeep]

That is very interesting! And i don't think i have any insight.

Mine will get on top of each other in the nest box, sometimes truly stacked like yours in the corner. But it's only in the nest box.

Also, once, after a raccoon killed some of our chickens, one of the surviving pullets would roost underneath one of the others. Poor things looked very uncomfortable with her under them, but they would let her stay there - kind of like they were comforting her. I always said she had PTRD (Post Traumatic Raccoon Disorder). Eventually, she got over the trauma and stopped getting under the other girls.

Your situation, though, seems way different.

I can't wait to see if anyone else has seen this or knows what it means.

 

[Cluckn Crazy]

My fathers chickens began showing odd behaviour when a weasel took residence at the farm. They didn't want to return to their pen... a few days later a few were killed. My dad had no idea the weasel was there and although the coop was well built, it wasn't weasel proof. Could they be afraid of something?

 

[kateseidel]

My hens have been doing this from the start - there are a few who prefer to huddle together in the corner rather than roosting, although they don't do it at other times. sometimes I get a miscount at night because one is piled on top of the others. No pecking or feather pulling - just....cuddling.

 

[FruitValleyFarmer]

I watched them more today and it seems like she only does it when the other one is about to lay an egg. Once the egg is laid she leaves her alone. So odd!

 

[Liana]

Sounds like your Orp fancies herself a Lamaze coach!

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Mine do this in the nest boxes.

Today Maureen (RSL) was in the box trying to get it laid...here comes Ann-Margaret (GSL) and she is all over Maureen who is growling. Then the plot thickened...Violet (BO) got up on the shelf in front of the nest box...I just knew she was going to pile on top of Maureen and Ann-Margaret but no...she just watched...she has just begun to lay and doesn't have it down pat yet.

Just as Maureen stood and got ready to drop the egg, Ann-Margaret moved and got on top of her but fell off. Violet suddenly started the Egg Celebration Song with HIGH VOLUME...I looked and there were 2 eggs...both had laid at the same time.

Violet went on with the Celebration Song for quite awhile...Ann-Margaret jumped down from the nest box and got a drink, then joined in with a rather odd end to her Egg Celebration Song. Everyone in the run stopped, watched and listened.

 

[gaillardia]

My EE rooster would climb under my Buff Cochin each evening. I think he found her feathered legs warm and cuddly in the cool evenings. It always made me smile.

 

[centrarchid]

FruitValleyFarmer

Do you have a rooster in with your hens?