my chickens are doing some strange new behaviours

[cutlass1972]

They are 17 weeks old, I am wondering if they are getting ready to start laying?
they are doing a handful of things different all of a sudden.

1. 2 of the hens crouched down, and put their butts up in the air and spread their wings out a little when I reached down to pet them

2. the hens have been making new noises. a lot of bock bock boogggggggrrrrggg booooggggggggggrrrgggg almost like growling or something

3 tonight I noticed hens and roos both walking around with their wings slightly raised. I thought maybe they where hot but it is the cooler part of the day and they weren't panting or anything. I got pics of this behavior.

 

[mrbstephens]

 

[speckledhen]

They are hot and trying to cool off when they hang their wings that way. The squatting is what they do when ready to accept a mate, so they will be laying soon.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

My eight that are now 20 wks did that last weekend when we had hot weather. No panting either.

I got my first egg yesterday and second one today, both from my barred rock - YAHOO!!!

Mine started doing the squating thing when being petted a month ago.

What I did notice is the barred rock that's laying started getting a much larger and really red comb and wattles about the same time.

 

[Silkiefan]

my 4 month old Silkie walks backwards and snakes her head back and forth sideways when I walk towards her... possibly a related behavior?