Black Australorps not laying or dust bath?

[makern12]

It is so weird I go in the backyard and one of the chickens will be squated down with her wings out looking like she is getting ready to lay an egg and NOTHING. Is she taking a dust bath or laying trying to lay an egg but just constipated?

 

[cyanne]

That's just her doing the hen 'squat.' It's what they do so that the rooster can mate with them. When the hens do that for you it just means that they are acknowledging your place as head 'rooster' of the flock.

 

[makern12]

That is interesting thanks for letting me know I thought they were getting ready to lay but they haven't in over a week so I was just curious.

 

[cyanne]

They usually start doing that shortly before they start laying so keep an eye out for your first eggs!

 

[makern12]

Thanks they have done that a handful of times but no eggs yet. I bought them a week ago and they stopped laying after I got them...

 

[NancyDz]

Mine do that all the time, I usually just put my hand on their back and rub them a little, then they get up and walk off. It started right before they started laying.

 

[makern12]

Do I want them to get up or just continue to do this?

 

[JennsPeeps]

If they squat, just give them a good feather ruffling. It'll satisfy the mating urge without being too pervy for you.

It's a good thing that they squat for you: they see you as dominant, plus it makes picking them up really easy.

 

[makern12]

you all are funny.. thanks for all the insight!

 

[Bfranke]

My Buffs did the squatting thing too, in the weeks before they began to lay. They still do it, so that I will stroke them. A local farmer and I were talking, and he had gotten some partly raised chickens, and wondered when they would start laying. I told him about this behavior, and he had never heard of it. However, his hens began to act this way, and then began to lay!!
Bette