Chicken dance

[Drosera]

I'm guessing this question must get asked often enough. I got 4 chickens last week. 1 leghorn, 1 red sexlinks, and 2 black sexlinks. The blacks seem to have become quite used to us, perhaps even liking us at this point.

When I go into the pen to feed them or water them or whatever, the blacks often crouch to the ground, spread out the "elbows" of their wings, flatten their backs, and do a "pat-pat-pat" dance with their feet. Also, sometimes when I'm just looking in on them, one of them will lower her tail.

I'm guessing this is a submissive behaviour? Is there a name for this behaviour?

I've tried to find this information myself on the net, but can't seem to pull anything up.

Thanks.

 

[nicks chicks 1]

i dont know what its called but it sounds like she submiting herself to be mated

 

[92caddy]

They are submiting themselves to be mated................

 

[Drosera]

Um...crap! lol

What did I do to deserve this kind of attention?

I'm a woman, and I'm married for Heaven's sake! lol

 

[S0rcy]

If they are all girls with no rooster, you just became the roo!!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

It is a good thing though!!!!! Even the more flighty chickies are really easy to pick up and snuggle when they want you to be their boyfriend!!!!!

 

[Ericasl]

 

[Drosera]

Quote:
Ya, even before we found this out, my husband suggested I try touching them or picking them up when they did that, to see if they would let me.

Well, I guess when you're hot, you're hot! lol

 

[eliss18]

oh i always thought that they were scared hahahaha

now its wierd... lol

 

[tvtaber]

This is what is called on the board the "egg squat". Not very nice name, but it does make them easy to pick up!