How do you know if the chicken is squatting?

[KNelly]

Mine don't squat randomly...only when I pet specific ones on the back. They don't lay down they just get really low and sometimes get poofy when I do it. Is that the squatting everyone is talking about? They don't run from me when I do so I don't think it's them being scared. They just started this recently.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That is the squatting behavior of which people speak.
Not all will do it so I don't use that as an indicator of imminent lay.
Squatting is a desire to mate and really has nothing to do with imminent ovulation.
When hens run with a rooster they almost never squat because they're already doing it with a boy.
Skittish aloof breeds won't do it either because they won't let a human that close to them.

 

[3chickchicks]

Here's mine doing egg squat. She started squatting about a week out from her first egg.