what's up with these chickens

[grandpachicken]

Hi everyone...yesterday I got my 6 "sister chicks"..they are getting used to coop but today they have been scratching out the straw from the nest boxes..sounds like they are digging to china...put in more straw and chicken in nest box putting out straw down to bare wood..Whats up with that

 

[Judy]

Welcome! It's nothing unusual. Mine used to scratch pine shavings out but left hay alone. Now they leave pine shavings alone, too. I think they think they are making their nest.

Many people put a lip across the front of the nest boxes, about a 1"x4" so you have maybe a 3" lip, which cuts down on this. If they start laying on hard wood, you might want to get some of that rubbery shelf liner and just put a sheet or two in the bottom. Not expensive, and easy enough to pull out and clean if needed.

Good luck!