Do all hens do the submissive squat?

[blankchicken]

I have 2 leghorns (brown and white), 1 Cochin and a New Hampshire Red who are all going on 21 weeks. So I've turned into egg watch haha. Do all hens do the "submissive squat"? I was reading and it said they will do it even when you walk up to them. Mine don't actually like it when I walk up to them unless they think I have treats haha. I took some pictures of their combs/waddles because I'm not sure if it's really red or not.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Hens are all supposed to do the egg squat. Some do it all the time while others only do it on occasion. Believe it or not, one of my hens only does the egg squat when she's free ranging. When she is in her run and coop she never does it. But the other hens all do it all the time. Also, some more skittish breeds, such as the leghorn, won't do it probably as much around people.

 

[blankchicken]

That's awesome to know! Thanks so much! I am really anxious for eggs. And I wasn't really seeing any 'signs' yet besides the fact that they are weeks old and I think their combs are pretty red.

 

[Peeps61]

They look to be getting close. The combs are red and the faces are getting red too. Not all chickens will do the squat. My RIR's and BSL's did before they started laying. My BO's never did and have not to this day. They are my best layers. If you have a rooster, they usually will not squat for you, but will for him. Mine was taken by a predator, and my hens that squat are back to doing it for me now. Of course, these are over a year old. I also have 6 week old chicks, so around Nov/Dec I'll be looking for the egg squat! I live in NW Florida, so our light stays pretty good here year round. I had very little drop off in egg laying last winter with no added light.

 

[krista74]

I have 2 BO's and 4 RIR's. Both the BO's squat occasionally for me (but not all the time) and none of the RIR's have ever squatted for me! It's a shame because I think it looks so cute!

Your girls look like they will lay soon. In fact, if you said tomorrow that you got your first egg I would not be at all surprised.

Then again, we all know how they can keep you waiting (and waiting, and waiting) when they want to!

Not long though, I'm sure.

Krista

 

[RonP]

I have a mix of breeds.

Mine either squat, or run like heck, depending on the breed...

 

[blankchicken]

Thanks for the advice! I was really curious since they don't seem to do that. I am a crazy lady going in every day looking for eggs.

 

[KNelly]

@blankchicken did they start laying soon after posting this? Im in the same boat now but my brown leghorn is 26w now!

 

[Peeps61]

Mine started laying last week - I last posted in this thread in July! I have at least 3 of my seven laying now. Looking for a blue egg from my EE hen, but the others are all laying pretty brown eggs. They seem so small compared to my older hen's eggs though! About 1/2 of my new hens are squatting for me too.

 

[North Country]

I noticed this "S.Squat" last night as I was putting my 3 girls to bed for the night.
One squatted at my feet and did a little "Dance" with her feet.
I have Goldline chicks that will be 16 weeks next Tuesday.
Must be early layers. Two have full red combs and wattles now and the third one is just slightly behind. She's always been just a little smaller than her sisters.
Looks like egg time soon.