strange chickens

[charlie4444]

hay there everyone,im new to this,so just wana say hello first. my question is i have 2 chickens about 7 mnths old,the last few weeks when i walk past them they move there feet real quick then they duck down in2 the ground,does anyone know y they do that. ive had them since 1 day old & they r very friendly,they let me pat them and they follow me everywhere,but this weird behaviour has got me curious.

 

[RhodeIslandRedFan]

Welcome to BYC and to the chicken world! Sounds like they are hens and this is typical squatting behavior. They are signaling their readiness for mating (if you happen to have a rooster) and should be laying eggs soon if they are not laying already. If you search "squatting" on this site you will find lots of information. Enjoy your fresh eggs!

 

[Judy]

Yes, that's what it sounds like to me, too. It will happen whether you have a rooster or not. I have a few pets who do this to me whenever I reach towards them, and at the moment I don't have a mature rooster. They are flirting with you!

 

[sourland]

They are lookin' for lovin' and will soon start laying eggs. Normal "squatting" behavior.

 

[jomoncon]

I have 8 RIRs who started laying about about 6 weeks ago. Now, when I let them out to free range for a while, all 8 start squatting near me! And I get real busy petting & patting!! This is a big change from before they started laying. Then they didn't want me to touch them at all!

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
It means they think you are hot. To them, you are their rooster.

 

[jenni22776rn]

My Australorp does that to me everytime I open their coop door and every time I go anywhere near her...I always pick her up when she does that!

 

[Shanda]

That's so funny...I always thought it meant they wanted me to pet them. I never made the connection that is was a mating behavior

.

 

[torrelee]

I have a little australorp hen who does it every time my boyfriend is by her.... she doesn't do it for me. Apparently he's cuter!

 

[flowergirl60]

The old squat and pat. Mine do that too.