Walking around all puffed up

[lizch]

I have two RIRs, 10 weeks old. Whenever I let them out to free range, one of them sort of puffs itself up--fluffs up its feathers, lifts up its tail, and holds its wings out a little. What does that mean?

I *think* they are both pullets...they look enough alike that I think they must be the same gender. So even if it is roo behavior, why aren't both of them doing it?

I also have five BA pullets, and none of them do this.

 

[stormylady]

Sounds like she might be hot? has it been warm lately where your at, my girls were all doing that when the weather suddenly changed from 60 degree wheather to almost 90 over night.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If she is holding her wings out, with tail up, and "squatting" then it is a mating behavior. Does she kind of stomp her feet and wiggle her head back and forth a little?

 

[lizch]

Record-breaking cold here in the Pac NW....has only made it to 60 a few times so far this spring, and it hasn't reached 70 since Nov 4th! So if she's already too hot, she's in for a shock soon (I HOPE!!!)

 

[lizch]

Quote:
Oh that sounds like it! She's only 10 weeks...does that mean she might lay eggs a little early?

We don't have a rooster as far as I know, so I wonder who she's flirting with?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
Oh that sounds like it! She's only 10 weeks...does that mean she might lay eggs a little early?

We don't have a rooster as far as I know, so I wonder who she's flirting with?

They usually do that before they lay, that is true. However, 10 weeks is too early to lay. Typically most breeds will lay around 5-6 months of age.

I HAVE seen chickens squat for me at around 10 weeks, however- copying the older laying hens I guess? They do it to "bow to me." They are displaying that I am the dominant member of the flock. You can do a search on BYC for "squatting" and get lots of reading material if you wish.

I'm in WA state too-

 

[lizch]

Quote:
Thanks. Definitely not expecting eggs any time soon.

This particular chicken is the jumpiest and least friendly one I have. Maybe she's just really really scared of me?!!

Here's to warmer and drier weather here soon....they're suggesting later this week. Wooohoooo!

 

[stormylady]

How long is she doing that for? Just a couple of seconds or for minutes or longer? If it has been staying in the sixtys there for a while and you didnt have a warmer weather spell then maybe its not the heat, maybe she is just soaking up the sun? I didn't realize she was stopping to squat, I thought she was walking around like that, sorry must have overlooked that. When they do squat its usually when you or Roo walks up to them and then only for a few seconds in my limited experience.

 

[ErinG]

Is she only doing it when she is free ranging? Do you watch her as much when she is indoors? Not to jump to conclusions, but one of my hens did this when she had cocci. But she was acting sick - napping in a corner, not eating, drinking. If she is acting normal otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it - but it sounds like you are just curious. Chickens are funny animals, I'd love to get inside their heads once in a while.

 

[lizch]

Quote:
Yes, only when free-ranging. She seems 100% healthy (to this novice's perception, anyway!)

I have a feeling getting inside a chicken's head would be a bad idea for people afraid of wide open spaces

Liz.