Why do my chickens put bedding on their backs?

[ChickMandy]

Hi. My name is Timber.

I'm wondering, why do my chickens always put bedding on their backs when they lay eggs?

Thank you!
Timber

 

[fshinggrl]

They are making a nest. Moving hay/bedding around to their liking.

 

[sparky134]

Hi Timber, They usually do that after laying an egg and I think they are trying to make a nest for their beautiful egg..

 

[LT]

One of my girls, Mabelline, sits in the nest box for an HOUR before laying an egg. I swear, I think she relocates every piece of pine shaving until it is exactly the way she wants it. This morning, she had two girls waiting in line to use the nest box, but she was patient, making the nest to her liking. Isn't it sweet?

 

[tamberlin]

Hi Timber,
We have one EE girl (her name is Helena) who likes to make tunnels in the fresh hay to lay her eggs in. Sometimes it's hard to find her when there is alot of hay!
All the best,
Deb

 

[debid]

Personally, I think it's an attempt to camouflage themselves while on the nest. The more they blend in when they're stuck in one place for a while, the less chance there is that a predator will see them. It makes sense to me.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Timber, Some of the hens "throw the straw" over their backs pretty well. Some reach out of the box, picking up some more straw and throw it over their backs. Maybe they're making their bed? My mom always told me to make my bed. Could be they are making their laying bed, their nest before they leave. Let's go with that.

 

[ChickMandy]

Thank you everyone! I love my chickens

 

[Chic_girl]

Hello! Me and my zoology teacher got in a discussion about this the other day (we both raise chickens). Our opinion is that this behavior is a way for the chicken to disguise itself.
Chickens make easy meals for many predetors, and especially while they are laying or incubating eggs. Putting straw or other bedding on their backs myst make them less likely to be seen by things that want to eat them.
My nest boxes usually don't contain bedding, so sometimes I will see one of the chickens pretending to place bedding on their backs. Maybe this is something they do automatically and arn't aware of it?

 

[SueBaby]

I've been noticing the same behavior, with one of my hens-Ginger- in particular. I use t-shirts in my nesting boxes and she cranes her neck out of the box and into the coop to find bedding to place on her back. I think the camouflage explanation makes a lot of sense. Ginger is kind of the odd chicken in our little flock, so I was wondering if it's more of her crazy behavior. She's the only one of my hens that shows any broodiness. I'm glad to see that other hens do this too.