Beginning to Squat

[MarcoPollo]

This squatting that you all are talking about, does this happen in the run, hen house or where?
Mine are nearing egg laying age, so I have a watchful eye.
Sitting on the ground is not what you mean is it?

You'll know the squat when you see it. They'll be on their feet and it's usually when you approach them and reach down for them. They stop, lower their back, the wings kind of puff out away from their sides. They make their back look like it could support a book being placed on it. I always give them a little pat on the back when they squat, lol.

 

[EagleEyes]

That's a great video, and hard to miss that song.
But do they sing this song before or after laying an egg?

 

[slav defence]

Hey,
I was reading a book poultry husbandry-a really interesting read:
It says that broodyness is not good strain for the ones interested in layers for egg business-these chicken have reduced clutch size

 

[EagleEyes]

MarcoPollo,

Thanks for that very good description of squatting. I'll also give her a pat on the back when it happens.

 

[Tucs]

Thank you for sharing, these posts are so helpful. April 15 my husband brought home three two day old chicks, one BO, one Ameraucana, one RIR. We love them, they are a lot of fun. The BO ended up being the alpha hen, pecking the others when gathering around treats, she was also our first layer. She started laying September 19 after displaying very strong PMS symptoms, our sweet little Ameraucana followed her example on October 1. By now all three are singing loudly but our RIR has still not started laying.
If I am correct the song is supposed to distract potential predators from stealing eggs. It seems that our girls now finally sing after laying an egg or if they think somebody else is laying. But maybe they sometimes just like to practice?
I wonder how long our RIR will start laying?

 

[alebuela]

[[/SIZE. I have a bantam chocolate Orpington hen who finally started laying again after her first (4-month-long) moult. She has never squatted or sung the egg song! My BCM finally laid her first egg at 28 weeks, and she never squatted until after laying her first egg, and she hasn't ever sung the egg song either! My 30-week-old EE (hatched March 21) has had bright red all around her face and comb for six weeks, but doesn't squat, and shows no signs of being ready for laying. Finally, my behemoth SS at 29 weeks still has only pale pink (but very large) comb and wattles, and shows no signs of POL behavior. I wonder sometimes if I've been feeding her so well that she's decided to live a long, easy life and not lay at all.

I've read posts about it taking sometimes 36 weeks to get an egg. Sigh... well, at least I'm getting eggs from two of them - not many or large, but lovely and delicious. That'll do for now.

 

[Lillichloe]

I am going crazy waiting for eggs. We have 4 16/17 week old pullets (2 EE and 2 speckeled sussex) then a few weeks ago inherited a supposedly 22wk old hen she's a mix of I don't even know - she hasn't started laying yet and 1 1/2 year old ancona who laid 1 egg for us and promptly went into molt.

 

[Peeps Mama]

My golden sex link started laying this summer, and hasn't missed a day yet. She's my best layer, and the sweetest of the bunch. My leghorn, Peeps, is in second place. I only have five hens but usually average 4-5 daily.
The neighbor's love us - we just can't eat them all!

 

[Betsy57]

My RIR pullets are now 23 weeks old and are beginning to squat. I am hoping for eggs soon.

My RIRs started laying at 20 so yours should be laying soon. It is so exciting.

 

[Betsy57]

I have been feeding pullets organic feed, is that a good idea?

YES!