Chickens crouching?

[Roxannemc]

I blocked my nest boxes for a week( after putting them up ) so they had to use the roosts. Once they were using the roosts, I unblocked the nest boxes and filled with straw, as I have a 5-6 really red faced pullets, a bit early for my breed, but they are hatchery chicks, so could have some other mix that would cause them to lay earlier? They are just mutts. so who knows, and I have a wild Tom turkey hanging around, so I know the girls are getting ready, prolly sometime in the next month? Sooner would be nice...they are about 14 weeks? There about. So was really surprised to see the girls faces getting red and their little combs and tiny wattles starting to get red. No squatting yet, but they are getting MUCH friendlier, and letting me handle them more...I could always handle them, but they now want much more "attention". So I know it's coming soon!!!! Plus Mr Roo is acting more protective of them also...so many signs that things are progressing a bit sooner than I had thought!

My oldest girls the first to lay and they did squat a while before the laid however if yours faces are turning red ..that seem to happen with mine maybe a month before? When the clucking starts I know in a few days to a couple weeks ill see an egg
Mine all laid at 22 weeks right after winter was over so maybe they waited for the little warmer weather to lay so 22.NOne were earlier for me but some later than that.
Nests.... mine sleep there sometimes but don't seem to mess in them. but rarely.

 

[mithious]

My oldest girls the first to lay and they did squat a while before the laid however if yours faces are turning red ..that seem to happen with mine maybe a month before? When the clucking starts I know in a few days to a couple weeks ill see an egg
Mine all laid at 22 weeks right after winter was over so maybe they waited for the little warmer weather to lay so 22.NOne were earlier for me but some later. tan that.

Mine were late spring chicks, so I was wondering if I would have to wait for next spring for eggs, but seems maybe not...that Tom turkey said it all to me also...the pheromones are flying or he wouldn't be around. Caught him twice this week, checking out my pullets...they are in a run, and Mr Roo hustled them all in the coop, when he showed up....I figured, mid Oct for eggs, if not next spring...but...with the signs I am seeing...some of them are definatley going to lay this fall...yeahhhh!!! They must have some pretty messed up genetics lol! I knew they did, just by looking at them, but if they lay early, it's all good!

Only the two signs left, the squatting and interest in the nesting boxes. Then it should be really really soon...am watching!!! I love this part!!! Yeah it's my biggest girls that are showing the signs too. I do have a few clucking every now and then too...

I heard a cluck cluck clu CLUCK...just yesterday

 

[Bulldog164]

Well I've had the best boxes blocked for a week, unblocked it today so ill find out tonight if its worked. And my polish frizzle, who had been squatting, has laid an egg! It's the smallest egg I've ever seen, but out of my 9 chickens it's the first

 

[oesdog]

My wee Amber link has started to cluck but she is only 12 weeks old. Thing is the older girls got a bit upset for a while because we got two new OLD girls and they were not impressed so plenty of noise so the little one started the join in! lol I don;t think it is "real" clucking but sure is funny! At least it's not a crow!

Oes

 

[tiho_prskalo]

They are crouching the chickens because they are protecting theirselves