Submissive Hen Behavior or Mating Behavior?

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Patinas said:
Yesterday, 3 of my hens, at different times throughout the day, came up to me and squatted at my feet, tail up and just sat there...so I petted their backs and then they just got up and walked off. They are about 6 month old and all laying at this point.

I have reached out and petted them on occasion and they would squat at that point but this is the first time they came up and just squatted unsolicited right at my feet.

I do not have a rooster in my flock and I did not hold them much when they were chicks because there were too many of them. Out of 20 of them, 6 of them are very friendly towards me and like to follow me around and just generally be close to me when I'm outside doing stuff. The three that squatted at my feet were 3 of the 6 very friendly ones.

I don't think they were squatting to get petted because they just aren't used to humans handling them. I haven't seen them squatting with each other, only me.

Is it just that they view me as the boss or are they hoping a roo man will magically appear and jump their bones?
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Mine do the same thing and are about 5.5 months old. I read about it and it is a submissive behavior that is done for the rooster, also they feel safer closer to the ground, so when you walk by them they will squat to feel safe. But at this early age and just starting to lay, I am reading that they are preparing for a rooster. :)
 
pamonarch said:
Mine do the same thing and are about 5.5 months old. I read about it and it is a submissive behavior that is done for the rooster, also they feel safer closer to the ground, so when you walk by them they will squat to feel safe. But at this early age and just starting to lay, I am reading that they are preparing for a rooster.
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Hmmm...well I was telling myself that they just like me and were squatting to let me know they think I'm the boss. Now I'm thinking they view me as a roo man! lol

I'm still not going to Spock their tails though!
 
Patinas said:
Hmmm...well I was telling myself that they just like me and were squatting to let me know they think I'm the boss. Now I'm thinking they view me as a roo man! lol

I'm still not going to Spock their tails though!
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LOL...i reach down and pet them and sometimes wiggle their tail..they then will get up...fluff their feathers and walk away..chattering..lol....i have handled all my girls from day one and when i let them out of their runs to free range everynight for about two hours, they will follow me all over the yard...its too funny!! Guess I am the top bird then..ha ha!
 
I am the "roo man" as well at our house. Even our most spastic girl will now chill out and squat down. I give them a good neck scratch down their back ending with a tail wiggle and scratch. As mentioned above, they fluff up and then go their merry way. I have about 4-5 of my 10 doing this so far.
 
My hens do this. It was funny and cute at first, but yes, it gets old having them underfoot. You don't have to mess with their tail. A good, rough, ruffling of the back feathers works well enough to get them on their way.
 
I'm really not sure they think I'm the roo. They have squatted for many other humans, too. Heck! Last weekend, one of my mom's hens squatted at my feet. I think some hens are just squattier than others.
 

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