Squatting?

[kittykittykitty]

I have a BO hen that's 11 weeks old and every time I put a hand on her back very gently she goes into this squat like position. None of my other hens are doing it. My roo really wants to mate. Is she sexually mature? Or is she just sensitive?

 

[dbounds10]

Thats a squat, means she is getting ready to lay and will most likely let a roo mate.

 

[Tikkijane]

Most of mine have done that from the beginning. Does she try to move away? We always took that as they didn't want to be petted right now....

They've been doing that pretty much from the beginning, lol. We call it the "duck and dash."

 

[kittykittykitty]

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No, She doesn't.

 

[Tikkijane]

Quote:
Could be just reflex, but 11 weeks seems kind of young (to me, at least, and I am not an expert

) to be practising squatting. I don't really know that, though.

 

[Judy]

A few of my younger ones started squatting quite young; they also started laying quite young. If she doesn't move away I'd say it's definitely the squat, her way of telling the roo it's OK to mate, also her mating position -- and a sign she's near her point of lay.