Not all snakes lay eggs, but for the species that do, “nest” describes a real and sometimes surprisingly social behavior. Certain snake species use communal nesting sites, safe, insulated spots like rotting logs, leaf litter piles, or sandy soil, where multiple females may lay their eggs in the same general area, even if they arrived there independently.
Most egg-laying snakes leave once the eggs are deposited, relying on environmental warmth to incubate them. King cobras are a notable exception: females build an actual nest of leaves and vegetation, and guard it aggressively until the eggs hatch, one of the few true examples of parental care among snakes. Other species, like some pythons, will coil around their eggs and even generate heat through muscle contractions to help incubation along.
Whether guarded or abandoned, a nest represents real investment, a concentrated, vulnerable point in the snake life cycle that a good hiding spot helps protect.
Example: “The gardener uncovered a nest of snakes while clearing out the old compost pile.”
Related: Collective Nouns for Reptiles · What Is a Group of Snakes Called?