New layer squatting A LOT. Is this normal?

[TLynne1]

Should be getting closer, I figure a month after their wattles and combs turn bright red, about 2 weeks after they begin squatting. Someone else posted that they thought they would lay in a few days. I hope you post back how many days.

I am getting so excited! I thought also because the weather was turning a little chilly, that I wouldn't get any this first year.

 

[FrostRanger]

Ginger and Ginkgo will regularly run up to me and squat. Ginkgo has bolted at full speed to get in front of me and squat before. And it's not unusual for me to have to gently nudge at least one squatting bird to get into the run during the day. I say take advantage of it to get free pets, they were probably running away during their teen bird phase so enjoy the change

 

[WingItRanch]

I would not worry about it. It will lessen as time goes on. Before I had roosters (they won't squat for humans if you have a rooster) I would just give them a pat, and they do the shake dance and go on.

Mrs K

This thread is fascinating! I have a quick question. I have 11 pullets and 1 cockerel. I haven't seen any squatting but the cockerel has made some half hearted attempts at mating and I even caught him wing dancing around one particular girl a couple times. I've never seen the pullets squat. So will they for sure not squat for me since they have the cockerel?

 

[Themellowyellows]

Tottaly normal, one of mine shakes there butt. Some are more excited as someone else said lol!

 

[Mrs. K]

So will they for sure not squat for me since they have the cockerel?

As Ridgerunner says - one never knows for sure. I might be wrong, but I am making the assumption that your cockerel and pullets are the same age? If so, a thin maybe.

But most cockerels are going to pick up on an accepting pullet and take care of that long before you get to the coop. So I would not expect them to squat. If by chance your cockerel is for some reason much younger than your pullets maybe.

A lot of cockerels become sexually active long before the flock mate pullets and it causes a lot of problems, but it doesn't sound like yours has. They will work it out.

Mrs K

 

[The Coop Crew]

One of my pullets starting squatting a week ago today! I found her in the nesting box this afternoon where she sat for about an hour but didn’t lay an egg. Hoping to see an egg this coming week!

 

[WingItRanch]

As Ridgerunner says - one never knows for sure. I might be wrong, but I am making the assumption that your cockerel and pullets are the same age? If so, a thin maybe.

But most cockerels are going to pick up on an accepting pullet and take care of that long before you get to the coop. So I would not expect them to squat. If by chance your cockerel is for some reason much younger than your pullets maybe.

A lot of cockerels become sexually active long before the flock mate pullets and it causes a lot of problems, but it doesn't sound like yours has. They will work it out.

Mrs K

Thank you! Yes, they're all the same age. Coming up on 23 weeks old. The cockerel hasn't been bad at all. He's by far the largest but my Barred Rock are pretty sassy and they beat him up if he looks at them funny. I think they're teaching him manners even though they are still young themselves.

Edited to correct age. They will be 23 weeks on Wednesday, not 22 weeks.

 

[TLynne1]

Should be getting closer, I figure a month after their wattles and combs turn bright red, about 2 weeks after they begin squatting. Someone else posted that they thought they would lay in a few days. I hope you post back how many days.

I have my first egg today!!! Yea!! What a moment!! She didn't use the nesting box. Is there something I need to do to provide any type of care for her?

 

[WingItRanch]

I have my first egg today!!! Yea!! What a moment!! She didn't use the nesting box. Is there something I need to do to provide any type of care for her?

That's so funny because I got my first egg today too!!! Yay! And she also didn't use the nest boxes even though I have golf balls in there to encourage them.

 

[TLynne1]

That's so funny because I got my first egg today too!!! Yay! And she also didn't use the nest boxes even though I have golf balls in there to encourage them.

I have the ceramic egg in mine...she sat in it a few times but I guess she didn't like it! I almost want to frame it