Hens squatting for me? - Page 2

The squatting actually keeps them safe from predators in some cases. They instinctually squat when they see a shadow overhead. When a hawk or other predator swoops down, they may get missed by the claws from being carried off. That being said, they also do it to show submission, so in your case it is probably the latter. Mine all started doing it right before they started laying, not sure about why the timing may be...

Your girls need a rooster boyfriend if you don't have one already.  Many people say "nah man, you don't need a rooster", but I feel chickens want some action too..

They now squat for all of us, kids and all, now that they are laying.

I thought it was a submissive gesture, not necessarily that they WANT to be mated but that they will not resist - so as not to be injured? mine do this when they get a fright after running away from whatever it was. They never did it for the roo! They wanted to be as far away from the rapist as possible 

Yeah, probably the latter. lol. At least I hope so. However, I have even had a few rooster that would do this too, though their crouch isn't quite in the same 'form' as a hen's. They have to maintain a bit more pride about it, you know. Theirs is more like a kind of lean sideways in place kind of freeze, as I reach to pick them up. I have worked with a lot of kinds of animals, experienced training in several,  generally foster a pretty good dominance-submissive relationship with them, yet also generally deep trust, I'm firm, even demanding, but not mean or cruel....some non-animal-savvy people have, most my life, have expressed frustration, to them I am "so mean" to my animals, yet they adore me like theirs don't! I groomed dogs for many years, wimpy spoiling owners would be frustrated their dogs seemd to love me more than them lol! But part of that kind of relationship is also they do see me as 'protector', if they are uncertain or scared of something. That can get a bit dicey with something like a 1200 lb horse trying to get into your lap because they think something looks like it could possibly be a horse-eating monster, at least until you convince them its really only a mailbox someone has hung their cowboy hat on top of, and left the door hanging open, so it looks like a gaping mouth about to devour something. Maybe a horse..
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by psucarrierae 

The squatting actually keeps them safe from predators in some cases. They instinctually squat when they see a shadow overhead. When a hawk or other predator swoops down, they may get missed by the claws from being carried off. That being said, they also do it to show submission, so in your case it is probably the latter. Mine all started doing it right before they started laying, not sure about why the timing may be...

Only a man would come up with that one.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vamvakas 

Your girls need a rooster boyfriend if you don't have one already.  Many people say "nah man, you don't need a rooster", but I feel chickens want some action too..

Quote:

Originally Posted by psucarrierae 

The squatting actually keeps them safe from predators in some cases. They instinctually squat when they see a shadow overhead. When a hawk or other predator swoops down, they may get missed by the claws from being carried off. That being said, they also do it to show submission, so in your case it is probably the latter. Mine all started doing it right before they started laying, not sure about why the timing may be...

the "squat" when they are ready to mate doesn't look anything like the squat for the shadow of a predator.     When most people here say "squat" they are referring to the legs spread, wings spread, head down/tail up, posture.     The timing is simple - it just signifies the hormones switching on that a hen is old enough to reproduce.   Even though chickens have been engineered by man to lay constantly, egg laying is still reproduction.

When my birds see a shadow, it looks more like "duck down, hide in the grass"  

When mine see something fly overhead, they don't squat or crouch, they make a dash for cover. Maybe they just have a bit more sense than all of yall's chickens lol.

Then again, maybe they don't... I think three of them are in love with me.

maybe you give them better candy and whisper sweeter nothings and nicer pats and scratches than he does.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by aoxa 

My girls squat for me easier than they do for my roosters.