Egg squat?

[HenHouse10C]

I have a black Easter Egger named Lucy. She's 12.5 weeks old. Just this week I've noticed sometimes she stops in the middle of whatever she's doing and fluffs her wings out and squats down. It only lasts for a few seconds. She's not pooping when she does this and from what I can tell she's having no problems pooping either. Is she practicing for laying? She is my biggest and most dominant hen.
This is Lucy

 

[N F C]

Hi, pretty girl you have there!

It sure sounds like Lucy is doing the squat. That's one indication that egg laying will be coming soon. Most of our chickens (including our EE) didn't start laying until they were 18-20 weeks old so 12.5 seems a little early but they start when their bodies are ready, not according to our time schedules that's for sure. Watch and see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

Good luck with Lucy!

 

[threescompany]

Hi, pretty girl you have there!

It sure sounds like Lucy is doing the squat. That's one indication that egg laying will be coming soon. Most of our chickens (including our EE) didn't start laying until they were 18-20 weeks old so 12.5 seems a little early but they start when their bodies are ready, not according to our time schedules that's for sure. Watch and see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

Good luck with Lucy!

Agreed!!

 

[srhmchlk]

How long after this post did Lucy lay? I have a 19 week old that squats now when I pet her. I tried to test my others for the pet-squat reaction, but they don't want me to touch them.

 

[Pork Pie]

The squatting is normally a sign that they are reaching maturity and the squatting posture means she wants to be mated.

 

[shortgrass]

How long after this post did Lucy lay? I have a 19 week old that squats now when I pet her. I tried to test my others for the pet-squat reaction, but they don't want me to touch them.

Lol my youngest daughter calls it "bowing".." Look, mommy, the chicken is bowing to me!"

If only ha-ha...

I've noticed on average I suppose, about 2 weeks to a month after they start squatting, you'll find an egg... For new girls, once I see squatting, I start watching to make sure they know where the nesting boxes are...they usually do, they practice and shuffle bedding and start singing egg sings with no egg for a few days..

Soon...very soon

 

[srhmchlk]

Sounds great, thank you. I put out the nesting boxes a few days ago, haven't noticed anyone investigating them. But they aren't sleeping in them either. Total flock turnover this year, and I miss fresh eggs.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Try putting some golf balls in one of the nests. That might help them figure out the purpose of the nest boxes.

 

[srhmchlk]

Try putting some golf balls in one of the nests.  That might help them figure out the purpose of the nest boxes.

Kids are young enough that they have plastic toy eggs I stole from them!

 

[HenHouse10C]

How long after this post did Lucy lay? I have a 19 week old that squats now when I pet her. I tried to test my others for the pet-squat reaction, but they don't want me to touch them.

She started laying mid July. Pink eggs!