Why are they pretending???

[chickenlickin8]

I don't understand why my girls go in the nest box and sit there for awhile and then...NOTHING! I am getting 1 or 2 eggs a day but the other girls are the ones doing the PRETENDING to lay thing. Is this part of them getting ready?? It gets my hopes up every time I see them do it. Here are two of them doing it today caught in the act.....

 

[sunnydee]

Practice makes perfect??

 

[chickenlickin8]

I guess so...LOL!

 

[warren]

I have a nearly-3-year-old who does that. She has had plenty of practice so she must have another reason.

 

[MaryT]

Maybe they are making sure it is safe before they lay.....

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Maybe they are resting instead of nesting

 

[bayouchica]

I have hens that do that,all different ages. They are molting,stopped laying for some time now. I guess it's like old habits are hard to break,kinda thing,lol.

 

[chickenlickin8]

One of them did again this morning right after I turned their light on at 6:30AM. She ran to the nest and jumped in one. She then turned around and moved the fake egg under her.....then nothing! She got off the nest without laying...NO EGG!

I have 2 others doing this as well. They are 6 months old now. What's up with this behavior?