Behavior of "Spent Hens" I have taken in????

[Twiggers96]

Dang, none of my girls squat either!

I would love to be able to handle them.

 

[manydogs]

No roosters in this flock. I might add one in the Spring.

I've never heard of this behavior, thanks for the insight. I picked up on the fact that it was submissive, but now I'll make a point to give them a bit of a scritch. They are all turning into quite the characters - these new hens. They don't mind going out in the snow either, which was unheard of with my previous hens. I enjoy watching them scratch around in the yard. They follow me everywhere when I am in the barn doing my daily chores, talking all along.

As I understand it, these organic egg farms "clean house" each season. All the hens are replaced, and most of the "spent" ones sold as stew hens. I got them for $1 each. They looked just awful when I brought them home, molting and nearly featherless. Beaks cut off (poor things) and wings clipped too. Since they've been able to free-range, I haven't noticed any aggressive behavior in any of them. They now have new feathers coming in, and are looking healthy. Oddly though, my previous hens stick together away from the new girls. Like "clicks" - ha, ha. At night in the coop, I have observed them all cuddled together in the straw, some all laid out on their sides, sound asleep. Nice to see they are enjoying life.

I so enjoy the fresh eggs, and the company of these feathered friends!

 

[BlazeJester]

Were they advertised on CraigsList or did you know someone in the business, or... farm bulletin? How did you find them?