Questions about squatting

[aliris]

Does squatting have various meanings? Recently my hens (1.5yo, starting their second year of laying) have become more willing to be petted and I notice two of them will often squat at my feet - they seem actually to want to be petted. This is new, they used to hate being touched, period.

Then today one of them squatted at my feet and I petted her and another ran up and packed my hand, twice. This has never happened before. And they're very controlled with that beak - she put it over the back of my hand twice, but didn't chomp down or anything, or peck me which would have hurt. Just very deliberately chomped on me. What's with that? Is she claiming that chicken as her own? Protecting her? The chicken who "attacked" is not one of the ones who likes being picked up. But she doesn't completely shun it, it's just rare for her to allow herself to be touched (another one of the four is absolutely anti-human and will work very, very hard not to be touched, ever).

There are two hens who do the squat-mounting duet even though both are hens. The two in this little drama today are neither of the squat-mounting duo.

What am *I* to these chickens? Obviously I'm not a chicken; I think they know that perfectly well. I'm not competition. What on earth is up with that little pecking action? I should add none of them has really ever pecked at me before. It all just seems so weird....

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are the squatting hens currently laying? If not, they're probably close to resuming laying then.

I don't know about the beak action, but when a hen runs by me and drops into a squat, it's saying, "Be my roo."

 

[aliris]

Yes, squatting hens are laying. Beak action remains bizarre! Thanks

 

[Faiyumi]

Chickens don't necessarily see us as humans. These two seem to see you as their rooster. You can also be seen as a hen of the flock if you didn't know. They want you to mate them when they squat. When you pet the one, the other got jealous and pecked you, or possibly tried to protect the other from being mated (less likely). In my experience the most likely reason a hen would get pecky over this is because she considers herself higher up the pecking order and you should have mated with her first. Possibly doesn't want the one under her to be mated at all.



Petting them when they are squatting makes them feel like you've just mated them (especially if they ruffle their feathers afterwards). Ignoring that could lead to resentment and they may end up ignoring you. Now that I have a really good rooster in my flock, most no longer squat for me. Only a couple still squat because I'm kind to them and give them extra treats.

 

[JedJackson]

Yeah, they are squatting because they want to mate and see you as the most likely contender. Hens get that way before a lay cycle, and it is probably instinctual.

If you watch chickens, males and females together, a hen will often interfere when other chickens are mating, particularly if it is a cockerel or new rooster doing the mating with one of their friends. I think it is a display of dominance.

I wouldn't be too worried unless the behavior of the one that pecked you escalates. She's basically just confused.

 

[aliris]

Sorry, to have been awol in responding. First, rosemarythyme: spot on. The pecking, doesn't-like-to-be-handled, last one to resume laying one, the day after this herself squatted a couple times and then started laying.

So, .... wow. That is wild about the mating-dominance and on again off again jealousy/protection/expectation. I am just trying to wrap my head around this, to be honest. The one who ran up and pecked and would never squat formerly, has now started. They all of them - no not the fourth, most-aloof one, but the rest all quite freely now come up to me and squat.

Do you suppose then these flocks of hens are "happier", whatever that means, to be having a rooster about?

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

Wow I'm glad ya'll explained this. My hens used to squat when I petted them too. Now I have 2 roosters and they don't really do that anymore. I think having a roo around does make them happier.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you suppose then these flocks of hens are "happier", whatever that means, to be having a rooster about?

I'd argue in most cases the hens are happier to not have a rooster, unless you can find the "perfect gentleman" type rooster, that's polite to the hens and not jumping on them all the time. Since mine treat me as "the rooster" they seem satisfied if they come over and squat, get a good back ruffling out of it, and then they can carry on with their day.

 

[aliris]

I'd argue in most cases the hens are happier to not have a rooster, unless you can find the "perfect gentleman" type rooster, that's polite to the hens and not jumping on them all the time. Since mine treat me as "the rooster" they seem satisfied if they come over and squat, get a good back ruffling out of it, and then they can carry on with their day.

That was sort of my feeling, but I don't have any comparison (no roo here). It's really interesting to me that that formerly stand-offish one now comes for pats all the time. She's the one who pecked at me when I petted the other squatting chicken.

Also, I'm noticing that they get very melty and relaxed and non-agitated while squatting. So if I pet them and then gently pick them up they actually snuggle against me, not their usual behavior by a long shot! And if I move slowly, I can, for example, put them down in their house with no struggle at all, they just sort of melt down. Maybe it's hormonal too; "instinctual".

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

Do you suppose then these flocks of hens are "happier", whatever that means, to be having a rooster about?

The majority of my hens are much happier having a rooster. He is however one of those perfect gentleman types. The ones who were not happy about it (two older hens) now live in a separate run and are very happy swanning about in luxury.

I wouldn't be without a good rooster now. He makes everything run smoothly between the hens and let's me know if something is wrong (hen missing, predator, coop door blown shut).

I've got a cockeral as well as the mature rooster and it remains to be seen how that will play out. So far, the cockeral hasn't tried anything on and is very well behaved (he is 4. 5 months old and crowing, but only in the morning after big boss is finished and he doesn't make a peep during the day)