Squatting?

[Kelsey Gravelle]

Hey there! We have 12 chickens and one of them is a roo. Recently I noticed our Sapphire gems and Buffs have been sort of squatting when I try to pick them up. Could this mean they will lay soon? Or is it submissiveness? They are 17 and 18 weeks old, because we got 4 a week later than the rest.

 

[All4Eggz]

Yes, this could mean they are going to lay soon. If you want to be sure if they are REALLY close, do the puic bone test- check out this article for details:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Chickeroonie keeper]

That sounds like submissiveness, but It could also mean that they are ready to lay.

 

[Kelsey Gravelle]

That sounds like submissiveness, but It could also mean that they are ready to lay.

Our roo has been "courting" a few of our hens. He'll go to them and drag his right foot and wing in a circle around the hen.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Hey there! We have 12 chickens and one of them is a roo. Recently I noticed our Sapphire gems and Buffs have been sort of squatting when I try to pick them up. Could this mean they will lay soon? Or is it submissiveness? They are 17 and 18 weeks old, because we got 4 a week later than the rest.

This makes me laugh, not at you, but because it's an odd looking behavior unless you're used to it and/or know what's going on

It is a form of submissiveness, but there's more to it: the chicks are becoming adults and are exhibiting instinctual behaviors associated with mating. When a rooster comes up behind a hen to mate with her, the hen will often (not always) squat to prepare for the rooster to mount them.

When you come down behind and over top of them, their instinct tells them to squat, and yes, it is an early sign that eggs are coming soon because they're moving from pullet status to hen status...

 

[Chickeroonie keeper]

Our roo has been "courting" a few of our hens. He'll go to them and drag his right foot and wing in a circle around the hen.

Oh, that little courtship dance they do always makes me laugh!