Odd, or precocious behavior

[1birdlady]

We have 4 Barred Rocks pullets that were all 3 days old when we bought them.

They are Maggie, Martha, Molly and Mimi.

They are about 18 weeks old now.

Maggie and Martha now have full red combs and wattles. Molly and Mimi have just barely combs coming in and no wattles at all yet. Mimi is on the lowest end of the hierarchy here...she's hardly allowed any treats, tho she is allowed to feed at the feeder, alone.

There is a nest box in their aviary, with a small plastic pink egg, and pine shavings. Someone has checked it out, but we're not sure who.

We do go into the run every day and try to "play" with them, bring treats etc...they (3 of them) are very tame....Mimi is the odd one out. Have to chase her into the aviary every evening, even holding treats...she just, either doesn't get it, or is so "cowed"...no farm pun intended.

My main question is, when we open the run door, Martha and Maggie both go into the "squat" position, even tho we've done nothing.......might this be an indication they are about to "think about" getting ready to lay?

Any comments and suggestions are most welcome.
Thanks in advance.

 

[gritsar]

Squatting is an indication that eggs are not too far off in your future.
I think every flock has (at least) one oddball. Lilith, the broken glass, metal, wood-eating chicken is mine.

 

[1birdlady]

Thank you Gritsar....

We're waiting and waiting...seeing signs and all...exciting times! HUH?

We do try to "extra" our odd one....

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's all you can do. I give Lilith extra attention, but it doesn't seem to matter. She's a different individual and that's okay too.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Quote:
That's all you can do. I give Lilith extra attention, but it doesn't seem to matter. She's a different individual and that's okay too.

Ok so did you give your chicken the name Lilith from the show Frasier & if so was it because of her odd behavior or do you think you gave her that name & the odd behavior is a result?? hehe Sorry I couldn't help it & I thank you so for sharing this because I really got a chuckle out of it. I think that's the best part of having chickens is the comical behaviors that keep one laughing.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's all you can do. I give Lilith extra attention, but it doesn't seem to matter. She's a different individual and that's okay too.

Ok so did you give your chicken the name Lilith from the show Frasier & if so was it because of her odd behavior or do you think you gave her that name & the odd behavior is a result?? hehe Sorry I couldn't help it & I thank you so for sharing this because I really got a chuckle out of it. I think that's the best part of having chickens is the comical behaviors that keep one laughing.

Lilith - A Sumerian Goddess of storms. She has been associated with, amongst other things, disorder, independence and self-determination.
She's lived up to her name. Actually she is one of only two of my hens that kept her original Goddess name I gave her as a chick; Brigid is the other.