13 week old silkie squatting??

[Myserrie]

I have a 14 week old silkie "giving me the butt" as we call it when we go to pet her. (Submissive squatting) she was born 9-11, the date is well documented, so i know im not wrong. Plus, she looks her age. Now im not new to chickens or silkies, but I am new to this.

Im not mistaken, as I have went to pet her several times over several days to confirm im not losing my mind. She seems perfectly healthy, and does seem to be maturing fast, minus the squat.

Im worried. IF its a female (assuming she is because ive never had a rooster squat) she is way to young and small to be laying. She is petite for her age, though not alarmingly small. Just fun sized. Shes very healthy, nothing else is alarming but this.

1. Should I assume female?
2. Should I be afraid for her safety if she's already doing this?

 

[Myserrie]

Also I mistyped she is 13 weeks old. I stink at typing on mobile!

 

[ella2025]

I have a silkie roo who is like 7 months old and he is absolutely terrified of me. But in the rare times that I catch him to cuddle/pet him, he will do a sort of semi-squat -- not very low but noticeable and spread his wings. I haven't noticed him doing it when he was younger, but maybe roos can squat, who knows. From your picture I can't tell exactly if she's in fact a hen, maybe wait for others to weigh in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

No idea as to the gender but chickens can squat as a general sign of submission as well.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

I agree on the submission part! Might not be sexually maturing or viewing you sexually but rather is listing to instinct of "get down". I highly doubt would lay eggs much earlier than a normal chicken. Almost all of mine were squatting for over a month before they were laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined!

The squatting is submission, regardless of sex or age. It is not a sign that they are ready to lay. It is not even a sure sign that it is a female, though it probably is. A lot of people like to read a lot into the squatting. I don't.

I once had an 11-week-old pullet squat for an 11-week-old cockerel. They went through the entire mating act, including touching vents. That pullet did not lay for another 8 or 9 weeks. That cockerel did not become a terror.

It seems to be my morning to tell people to relax. There is nothing wrong with what is going on. It is just part of you interacting with your chickens.