Squatting or pre-squatting maybe?

[UnicornYarnFarm]

For the past week I have been running around the yard like a crazy person (much to the delight of my toddlers) trying to see which girls might be starting to squat. It isn’t the deepest, but this is squatting right? Of course we are going out of town for 6 days tomorrow . I like to let them out every morning and roam the yard till they go back to bed at night. Should I keep them in the cage till they start laying? First time chicken Mom so I am so excited for the first egg, but I suspect my parents will enjoy it while they babysit for us…

 

[DemeterAD9]

That is squatting, so exciting! I would keep them locked in the run so they are forced to lay where you want them to. Throw some fake eggs in the nest boxes so they get the idea and after a week or so of them laying where you want them to it should be safe to let them out to free range. That being said, there will likely be the odd bird that would rather find her own place to lay. I had to do a lot of egg hunting before I just decided to keep them locked up for a while. Now I can let them out to free range whenever and they will go back to the coop to lay. It may be a different story once the other 20ish pullets start laying

 

[Appalachickens]

I have one, a speckled sussex, that started doing this almost immediately - like about 2 weeks. When I pick her up and put her on my lap, she holds her wings up and out just like that. I have no idea why she's practicing so early!

 

[UnicornYarnFarm]

That is squatting, so exciting! I would keep them locked in the run so they are forced to lay where you want them to. Throw some fake eggs in the nest boxes so they get the idea and after a week or so of them laying where you want them to it should be safe to let them out to free range. That being said, there will likely be the odd bird that would rather find her own place to lay. I had to do a lot of egg hunting before I just decided to keep them locked up for a while. Now I can let them out to free range whenever and they will go back to the coop to lay. It may be a different story once the other 20ish pullets start laying

Ok I’ll probably just lock them up, be easier for my parents also. Do you think it would be ok to let them out in the evening for an hour or 2?

 

[dearmeghann]

Yay! My BCM is the only one to squat, but she laid her first egg a few days after she started.

We had a pen set up for our first flock because we were helicopter parents. They would have grazing time in the afternoon. Would that be possible? Our first eggs typically came in the morning, but there were some surprises when they were getting used to their cycle. If it's not possible, I'm sure they'll be just fine. They'll get the hang of laying in the nesting boxes. Like @DemeterAD9 said, put some fake eggs in the nesting boxes and see nature work!

Also, our first egg showed up the first day back from vacation. I was so worried someone would lay when we were gone.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Ok I’ll probably just lock them up, be easier for my parents also. Do you think it would be ok to let them out in the evening for an hour or 2?

Yes, you can let them out a few hours before dark. Most birds will be done laying by then anyways. Mine seem to be pretty much done by about 4pm with most laying between 11-2. How old are yours anyways? I always find it interesting to know the age when everyone's birds start showing signs. I have a cornish cross I decided to keep back for a breeding project and she's just started squatting at 13 weeks which seems super early, but if she's an early layer that would actually work perfectly for me. I'd like to get one last hatch in for the year and if I can get 10 chicks from her I'd be over the moon.

 

[WingItRanch]

I just popped over to say VERY cute pictures! The thought of you running around to see who will squat also delights me just like it did your toddler.

I agree it would be good to keep them in the the coop/run so they know to lay in the nest boxes since they look close and you'll be out of town. Having your parents let them out for a couple hours in the afternoon/evening is perfectly reasonable.

 

[UnicornYarnFarm]

Yes, you can let them out a few hours before dark. Most birds will be done laying by then anyways. Mine seem to be pretty much done by about 4pm with most laying between 11-2. How old are yours anyways? I always find it interesting to know the age when everyone's birds start showing signs. I have a cornish cross I decided to keep back for a breeding project and she's just started squatting at 13 weeks which seems super early, but if she's an early layer that would actually work perfectly for me. I'd like to get one last hatch in for the year and if I can get 10 chicks from her I'd be over the moon.

They are 21 weeks old, 3 of the 7 are squatting.

 

[DemeterAD9]

They are 21 weeks old, 3 of the 7 are squatting.

I’m surprised none are laying yet! Any day now for sure

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok I’ll probably just lock them up, be easier for my parents also. Do you think it would be ok to let them out in the evening for an hour or 2?

That's mostly up to your parents, I think. If they need to, are they willing and able to go wrangle a chicken that doesn't want to go back in for any reason? If they're fine with that, then no reason to keep them penned in if you'd rather they get some time outside.

I've only had a chicken sitter once but to make things as simple as possible for her, the chickens didn't come out of the run until we returned.