Do Chickens Bury Their Eggs? [REVEALED]

An Scientificamerican study found that chickens do indeed hide their eggs. The study, which was published in the journal Animal Cognition, observed 24 hens over the course of 12 days.
Out of the 24 hens, 18 were found to hide their eggs at least once during the study period. The study’s lead author, Dr. Nicola Clayton, said that the findings suggest that egg-hiding is “a widespread and complex behavior.
Do Chickens Bury Their Eggs?
Chickens are interesting creatures and they have many different behaviors. One of the things that chickens do is bury their eggs. This behavior is beneficial to the chicken in many ways.
When a chicken lays an egg, it will often bury the egg in order to keep it safe. This is because eggs are very fragile and if they are left out in the open, they could be broken or eaten by predators. By burying their eggs, chickens can help to keep them safe until they are ready to hatch.
Another reason why chickens bury their eggs is to help keep them warm. Eggs need to be kept at a certain temperature in order to develop properly. If they get too cold, they will not develop correctly and may not hatch at all.
Do Chickens Hide Their Eggs?
Chickens are known to be protective of their eggs, but do they actually go as far as to hide them? Some chicken owners claim that their chickens do indeed hide their eggs, while others say that they have never seen their chicken attempt to hide an egg. So what’s the truth?
It is possible that chickens may try to hide their eggs if they feel that their nest is in danger. If a predator is nearby or if the nest is disturbed, a chicken may pick up an egg and move it to a safer location. Chickens may also try to hide their eggs if they are being crowded by other chickens in the coop.
However, it is more likely that chickens will simply protect their eggs by remaining close to the nest and keeping a watchful eye on them.
Why Do Chickens Burry Their Eggs?
There are a few possible reasons why chickens may bury their eggs.
- One reason is that it helps to keep the eggs warm and protected.
- Burying the eggs also keeps them hidden from predators.
- Chickens may also bury their eggs simply out of habit.
How to Find Out if Your Chicken is Burying Her Eggs?
It’s not uncommon for backyard chickens to start laying eggs in hidden, out-of-the-way places. If you’ve noticed your chicken acting strangely or spending more time in a certain area of the yard, there’s a chance she’s started burying her eggs.
While it may seem like a nuisance, this behavior is actually normal for chickens and isn’t anything to worry about.
There are a few ways you can tell if your chicken is burying her eggs. First, take a look at where she’s spending most of her time.
If she’s hanging around in the same spot more often than usual, it’s likely because she’s found a good place to lay her eggs. She may also start making small nests out of straw or grass in this area.
Another way to tell if your chicken is burying her eggs is by observing her behavior when you approach her.
Ways to get your hens laying in their nesting box?
When it comes to getting your hens to lay in their nesting box, there are a few things you can do to encourage them.
- First, make sure the nesting box is clean and free of any debris.
- Second, put some straw or other bedding material in the bottom of the box to make it more comfortable for the hens.
- Third, place the nesting box in a quiet, dark area of the coop to give the hens a sense of security.
- Lastly, check that the nesting boxes are the right size for your hens – if they’re too small, they may not be able to comfortably turn around inside.
How to Keep Your Hens From Burying Their Eggs?
If you’ve ever found an egg hidden away in a secret spot, buried beneath the straw, you know the frustration of a hen who likes to play hide and seek with her eggs.
While it may seem like a harmless game to your backyard chicken, buried eggs can become cracked and dirty, making them unsafe to eat. Here are a few tips to keep your hens from burying their eggs:
- 1. Collect eggs often. The more frequently you collect eggs, the less likely hens are to bury them. Hens like to lay their eggs in a nest that is already full of eggs. If you empty the nest regularly, they will be less likely to bother hiding their eggs.
- 2. Make sure the nesting boxes are clean and comfortable. If the box is too small, hens may be reluctant to lay their eggs in it. Also, make sure the corners are rounded so hens can’t get stuck.
- 3. Keep the coop clean and well-lit. Hens like a coop that is clean and well-lit, which will make it less likely they will bury their eggs.
- 4. Place nesting boxes in areas that are quiet and dark. If hens are feeling safe and secure, they won’t feel the need to bury their eggs.
Will a chicken lay an egg on the ground?
A chicken will lay an egg on the ground if the ground is level and has no debris on it. The chicken will also make sure that the ground is not too cold or too hot before it lays its egg.
If the ground is not level, the chicken will try to find a level spot to lay its egg. Furthermore, if there is no suitable spot to lay an egg, the chicken will take its egg and walk away.
Do hens hide eggs?
Hens are known to be protective of their eggs and will do anything to keep them safe. But, do they actually hide their eggs?
It turns out that hens will sometimes hide their eggs in order to keep them safe from predators or other animals. Hiding their eggs also allows the hen to keep a closer eye on them.
If you find an egg in your chicken coop that isn’t in the nest box, there’s a chance that the hen has hidden it. When searching for hidden eggs, look in dark, secluded areas of the coop.
Conclusion:
It has been shown that chickens do, in fact, bury their eggs. This behavior is beneficial to the chicken as it protects the eggs from being eaten by predators and keeps them at a consistent temperature.
For the farmer, this behavior can be frustrating as it makes it difficult to find the eggs. However, there are ways to encourage chickens to lay their eggs in a more visible location.
Reference:
https://www.ciwf.org.uk/media/3818895/china-chicken-case-study.pdf
https://www.ipl.org/essay/Chicken-Eggs-Case-Study-P3YH3C3K6J486
https://archive.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/agriculture/organic-farming/case-studies/case-study-eggs.pdf