You realize they're training you to reward them, right? If you (and any neighbors) don't mind the noise, by all means, you can treat them whenever you wish, but if the noise might be a concern, you need to be the one training them, not the other way around.Also, do your chickens "yell" at you for food every time you go out there? Even if I bring them like the leafy carrot top which they seem to love, they'll immediately start yelling for more. As they've gotten bigger, they've gotten much louder. My husband told me the other day when he was taking our dogs out that my "chickens were making very weird loud noises" until they realized it was him and not me (he doesn't like them).
Using lights in winter forces them to lay when they'd otherwise be taking a break. So while it hasn't been proven (far as I know) it's more likely a health deterrent than a benefit.Does anyone just let their chickens lay as they will or does everyone put the lights out to help? Is there a health benefit of encouraging these extra lay time?
Submission or mating position. Calling it a "massage" is polite, by rubbing their backs you're trying to simulating a male mating them, which is why some people won't do it. I do it because it encourages my girls to keep squatting (makes them easier to catch/pick up) and because it helps me ID which birds are close to/actively laying, and which aren't.However, they have in the last few days, taken to crouching down and bracing their wings if they think I'm about to touch them or pick them up. Is this normal?