Squatting

[PluckyClucker99]

I have a couple hens that squatted when they were about 17 weeks old. They are 18 and a half now, and have only squatted once since then... What's the deal?

 

[ochochicas]

I had a pullet that was squatting for three weeks and letting the rooster breed her before she ever laid an egg. It just depends on the chicken and when she's ready.

 

[Quickster]

One of mine stamps her feet so fast it sounds like a drum roll! She still makes me laugh when she does that. She did that for 2 weeks before she layed her first egg.

 

[Ilene]

I'm new at this & wondering about a strange behavior.
Not only is my hen squatting, which I understand means an egg.
But she wants to be in the house with us.
She'll squack up a storm outside & when I open the door, she follows me to the office & just wants to stay there.
Anybody have any experience with anything like this?

 

[ochochicas]

Yes, we have a hen that used to want to be in the house all the time. She had a leg injury as a chick and spent a lot of time in the house recovering. She also was not socialized well as a chick since she was separated from the flock due to injury. As a result, she preferred to be with humans. Between 5 and 7 every evening she'd be waiting at the back door to be let in. As soon as you opened the door, she'd come in and go to her cage.

It took quite a while to transition her to the coop. I set up a bale of hay for her since it was easier for her to roost there due to her leg injury. By the time I got out of the coop and was closing the door, she'd be outside already and headed for the house. After a few more week of socialization with the flock and repeated attempts to put her in the coop, she flew up on the roost one night and has been sleeping there ever since. She still loves people and wants to be carried around each afternoon. She's our favorite hen!

 

[Ilene]

Thank you. Interesting story.
This hen has been with the other hens since they were a few days old.
Just suddenly she wanted to be with her 'human' family.

 

[lhulbert]

My 4 Cochins are about 21weeks, and all hens. They aren't laying yet and I haven't seen any squatting. But they have started to peck at me when I go in the run. Is this normal and does it have anything to do with getting ready to lay? They used to be very sweet and docile. 2 of them puff up their chests when I approach them.