Why are they doing this

[babybaits]

My son has 10 chickens. 6 of them are around the age that they should be to start laying eggs soon. I'm in the backyard a lot and have noticed for the first time a number of them are in the coop scratching and moving the straw around. They're doing that, not only in the nesting boxes, but all over. He did just add more straw to it yesterday. Is there a purpose to why they're doing that?

 

[TooCheep]

Scratching is a very common chicken behavior. Chickens will commonly scratch around on the ground and look for bugs/seeds/worms/etc. They also try to dig holes in the dirt for dust baths to hold down mites.

Do they also scratch outside in the run area? I would expect they do that at least as much outside the coop as inside, but they can do it both places.

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

It's normal if they are going to be laying soon to be going up and down from their coop as they are trying to make their nest and get comfortable to lay their eggs. If they are doing this then you may see an egg very soon!

 

[babybaits]

Scratching is a very common chicken behavior. Chickens will commonly scratch around on the ground and look for bugs/seeds/worms/etc. They also try to dig holes in the dirt for dust baths to hold down mites.

Do they also scratch outside in the run area? I would expect they do that at least as much outside the coop as inside, but they can do it both places.

I see them doing it here and there outside, but never inside the coop

 

[Iluveggers]

You might want to put some fake ceramic or wood eggs, or gold balls in your nesting boxes. Hens like to lay where other eggs are and it will give them a hint as to where to go.

 

[babybaits]

You might want to put some fake ceramic or wood eggs, or gold balls in your nesting boxes. Hens like to lay where other eggs are and it will give them a hint as to where to go.

I'll suggest that to my son. Could what they're doing possibly be a sign that the time might be near for them to start laying eggs?

 

[Tonyroo]

There looking for the straw seeds, my chickens do that too. And yes there are seeds in the straw.

 

[Iluveggers]

I'll suggest that to my son. Could what they're doing possibly be a sign that the time might be near for them to start laying eggs?

How old are they?

 

[TooCheep]

You might want to put some fake ceramic or wood eggs, or gold balls in your nesting boxes. Hens like to lay where other eggs are and it will give them a hint as to where to go.

Wow... Someone really treats their chickens like royalty.
I'm sure you meant golf balls.

 

[SilverBirds]

It's just normal chicken foraging behavior. They're looking for seeds, bugs, or anything else of interest. I know my birds love digging through freshly laid hay.