Squatting/mating

[Devon07]

I haven't seen my girls squat yet but just today my roo had a successful mount....did he over take her or have I been missing the squat? Will the hens mate with the roo even if they aren't wanting too? I'm curious for a couple reasons but mostly about when eggs may be coming. I think a squat roughly says a couple weeks before eggs as a rule, but a mate may say different?? Either way I know they are close.....curious if the mating means the same or not related at all as far as eggs go.

 

[krista74]

Well, my 6 girls never did the squat for me prior to laying, and they have all been laying solidly for 2 months now. Very rarely my favourite one "Orpy" will do it for me, but that is only once in a blue moon. They will all squat for George (the Cockerel) though.

Sometimes a pullet/hen will reject a mating advance. They will use the 'duck and weave' technique to get away from the roo. My girls usually are quite willing to go right along with George's evil ways though. Tramps!

As far as when your girls will lay, there are a lot of visual cues you can look for. Do they have bright red faces, and plump red combs and wattles? Are they becoming more vocal, letting out the occasional screech and even an Egg Song in the morning? Do they show an interest in the nest boxes, jumping in and out all day and flicking straw around everywhere? Do they take the rooster to the nest box to get his approval? These are all common signs that your pullet is about to start laying.

What age are your girls? That's another thing to consider. Most pullets don't lay until at least 18 weeks of age. Depending on breed, it can be much later than that too. My Orpingtons and RIR's were all around the 24-25 week mark before they laid their first eggs.

Laying or not though, your rooster's natural inclination is to want to mate his girls.

Krista

 

[Devon07]

All my girls are 25 weeks. A couple have red combs and waddles that look "ready" as far as I can tell....the ones that dont look as ready are the ones who show more signs than the others but none of them seem to be really giving signs. The nest boxes are basically being slept in....they are to close for me to close them off....I have 8 girls and the roo....just got rid of the cockerel who was in the way of the roo.

Right now the roo is trying to mate and leaves a couple alone but works hard to get one of the easy targets or "tramp" lol but if they dont want he lets go...he is a good guy and treats the girls very well from what I seen.

To me it would seem if they are mating they should be dropping eggs but I dont have any on the counter either. lol

Thanks for the tips!

 

[krista74]

At 25 weeks I would expect that your eggs should be very, very close!

As in.....any day now!

I am curious as to why they are sleeping in the nest boxes instead of on the roost though. Are your nest boxes situated correctly in relation to the roost? The roost should be the highest point in the coop.

It may also be that despite there being plenty of space on the roost for the birds, that maybe they don't have the wing space to flap and get up there. I had that problem with my girls (they are all big, being Orpingtons and RIR's.) I installed a lower roost in front of the high roost so they could step up to it, stadium style.

You could also try picking them up at night time and gently placing them on the roost.

Sleeping in the nest boxes won't harm them (though it may encourage pests such as lice and mites who will harbour in the nest boxes) but the issue comes with droppings. If they are sleeping in the nest boxes at night, they are leaving droppings there too - which means dirty eggs for you, IF they lay in there.

I wouldn't block the nest boxes when they are 25 weeks old. I would pop a couple of plastic eggs in there though, so they know where it's appropriate to lay when the time comes. I'd also start training them so they know where 'bed' is!

Don't worry about the mating. At 25 weeks your girls are mature and should be mating. One final thought though - are you super sure they are now secretly laying somewhere, like under the deck or in a bush? Chickens are crafty little critters!

Good luck, Krista

 

[Devon07]

Im watching my girls better than the local hawks...lol its not a possibility that they are laying outside the coop with about 95% certainty. I will keep a watchful eye though.....they have such a routine and love to range and stay moving....when they lay they head to the coop for the most part...if Im outside with them they will seek a shade spot usually the same place every time and just chill.

Yes, they are pooping in the nest boxes....I have six and they are using three.....I clean it daily and sometimes twice a day as Im a clean freak.....I was hopeful they would get a hint once they started to lay.....the roost is directly even with the nest and this gives me an idea for this weekend to raise them about 12 inches...maybe that will help. I keep DE in the nest to help with the lice and mites...is this a good idea? I know its on them because when they shake and fluff they look like dust balls!

 

[Devon07]

I raised the roost today.....after looking at it I figured it was a bit high and low room to fly upto them soooo I will lower one like you mentioned on the stadium style. Thanks for the tip! now back out into the heat. uhhhg!

 

[Devon07]

When they enter the coop they quickly hit the first lower roost and then I have two more that are raised about 16 inches and they can easily get to any of the three...it will be interesting to see how this may change anything this evening.....they may all hit the floor now...LOL

 

[krista74]

Well done you! Please keep us posted as to where everyone ends up sleeping, ha ha! It will be a bit like musical chairs for a while I suspect

Lucky you having some hot weather. I am in the middle of Winter here (Australia) and it's freezing! Literally -2 degrees this morning. My chookies are probably doing star jumps and lunges out in their coop to keep warm!

Any sign of an egg today?

Krista

 

[Devon07]

we'll see how it plays out. I love having four seasons but two are pretty tough some times. We have upper 90's with high humidity and its just starting to cool down for this evening. I had to get the girls in the tractor and move them to shade on the grass on the far side of the house....the buggers wouldnt move in the heat to get to some greens (they sayed in the dirt and shade)....so I trapped them and now they are happy as can be.

Sorry about your cold weather.....our winters are fairly mild here but can get rough. Sending some warm sun your way!

No egg....I know its on its way though. Im more excited about the roost change than an egg now....must be time to get one. LOL

 

[Devon07]

When they went in last night it was a mess....a bunch of thumping and moving and squabbles going on....when they figured it out it was quiet and this morning the nests were clean! so glad I raised the roosts! they seemed happier too.....they can see out two small vents/windows now as well....it may be a little cooler for them too.


Thanks krista!