Freezing up

[AGeese]

I'm not sure exactly how to label this, but I've noticed my most developed BJG pullet at 6 months has a tendency to freeze up if she sees me attempting to pick her up before she's able to walk/run off.

This just started so it's a new behavior for her and I don't see this with her sisters who either just run off or let me pick them up. The only other things that I can think of are:

1. That I just found an egg, but I don't know if it was hers, although again she's the most developed.

2. With them free ranging in my garage for half the day I've noticed them fly really high up occasionally and I just wonder if she landed wrong on the cement or something.

Otherwise I really have no idea what's going on with her. When she does this it's like she squats and her legs lock up. I can get a hold of her and try to give her a gentle nudge, but she won't come out of it unless I either leave her alone or help her up.

So any ideas? I've heard some people have said their chickens freeze when startled, but this is a pretty new thing. I've raised her sine she was a day old. She's also the boss of the flock so it's not like she's fearful at all.

Thanks ahead

 

[Lady of McCamley]

She freezes in a locked squat? She's submitting to you as if you were the rooster. Hens do that when the rooster wants, well, uhm, attention.

Is she your oldest bird? She's likely the only one mature enough to exhibit mating behavior. Young pullets are like silly teen girls that giggle and run away. Some hens are always elusive. Some are very docile and allow themselves to be picked up.

But many mature hens will squat when approached from above from something they do not believe is a predator....it's natural response to the rooster.

LofMc

 

[AGeese]

Ah, ok well that's good to know at least. Had me shaking my head. I hope she doesn't do this for hawks as I had plans to free ranger her, but was thinking maybe I should make an aviary haha...

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Likely she won't for hawks, but it does beg the topic. If you want a free range bird it may be best to not create a pet behavior.

Mine are in runs but also have open area to free range. We have lots of hawks in our area. First few years my hand raised, artificial brooded weren't the savviest to keeping an eye out for hawks.

As I went to raising more sustainable birds, and less pets, the subsequent generations have been much savvier simply being a bit flightier.

So decide the kind of flock you want and go that direction understanding some loss is inevitable in free range

LofMc

 

[AGeese]

They've been doin great free ranging today, the weather was perfect. She'll look up and dart off if she hears anything so glad it wasn't that. I don't intend for them to be pets, just less crossing paths since they're currently in my garage.