Do molting hens still squat?

[kkapotsy]

Curiousity question! I'm a pretty new flock owner. One of my SLW was a faithful layer. Around October she stopped and soon after started losing neck feathers and so I assume she has been going through a small molt. She's been looking more feathered lately and today ran up to me and squatted (a behavior I haven't noticed from her since before her molt) and I wonder if it was random or if maybe she's going to start laying eggs again!

Any insight?

 

[junebuggena]

Squatting is a submissive behavior, it is not always an indicator of laying.

 

[kkapotsy]

Right right. I'm curious though because she hasn't been squatting for me since before she started her molt, but today actually came up to me and squatted (not me chasing her down to see if she would). I guess I'll know anyway in the next few days or so if she's coming out of her molt!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Right right. I'm curious though because she hasn't been squatting for me since before she started her molt, but today actually came up to me and squatted (not me chasing her down to see if she would). I guess I'll know anyway in the next few days or so if she's coming out of her molt!

Could be. Is her comb getting really red again? It usually gets pale when they molt. It will brighten back up when she gets close to laying again.