What is squatting?

[MKetter]

I’ve noticed posts about birds squatting before laying eggs. What does this mean? Chickens are 18 weeks old now: blue laced Wyandotte (one pullet and one cockerel), one buff Plymouth Rock (her chick mate died), two Black Stars, and two Ideal 236s. Online it says all of these breeds will begin laying from 20-24 weeks, and the Wyandotte from 18-23 weeks. I curious as to what I should see with squatting before laying eggs.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I’ve noticed posts about birds squatting before laying eggs. What does this mean? Chickens are 18 weeks old now: blue laced Wyandotte (one pullet and one cockerel), one buff Plymouth Rock (her chick mate died), two Black Stars, and two Ideal 236s. Online it says all of these breeds will begin laying from 20-24 weeks, and the Wyandotte from 18-23 weeks. I curious as to what I should see with squatting before laying eggs.

If you place your hand flat on the pullet's (or hen's) back, she squats down and lifts her wings out slightly. This is how she indicates to a male that she is receptive to mating. They'll often do it just when you make the gesture of getting ready to place your hand on their back.

It's hormonally triggered and appears around the time that they start laying, whether there's a cockerel/rooster around or not. You'll also typically see redder combs and wattles, flushed (redder) faces), and curiosity about and inspecting of roost boxes.

If you haven't already, be sure that there's oyster shell available for the needed calcium, even if they're on layer mix, and consider putting fake eggs (including golf balls) in the nesting boxes, which is another trigger to the hormonal process of laying.

They also generally get friendlier when they start laying!

 

[WingItRanch]

It's pretty much what it sounds like. Pullets will sometimes squat down with their wings out when you get close to them or reach for them. Basically, they're preparing to get mounted by a male because they've reached maturity. If you don't have a rooster or cockerel, they may squat for you as you've taken the place as the head of the flock. Sometimes even if you do have a rooster.

Not all pullets will squat, though. Out of 18, I only have 6 that did this but it is a sign that they are closer to Point of Lay.

 

[MKetter]

None of them squats when I reach out to them. The Ideals use moves from The Matrix movie to keep me from picking them up. I have know idea how they learned the choreography. They have the reddest combs (after Stu the Roo). Stu is ready to mate. The girls just ran from him or tried to, which is why he’s currently separated from them.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

None of them squats when I reach out to them. The Ideals use moves from The Matrix movie to keep me from picking them up. I have know idea how they learned the choreography. They have the reddest combs (after Stu the Roo). Stu is ready to mate. The girls just ran from him or tried to, which is why he’s currently separated from them.

That’s how mine were, too, until suddenly they were squatting. I think the first egg came a week or so later.

But as others have mentioned, some never do. Go figure!

Are yours exploring the nest boxes?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve noticed posts about birds squatting before laying eggs. What does this mean?

I'll copy something I wrote a few years back about mating behavior. It might help you understand some about what is going on. I have cockerels and roosters and I do not cuddle or pet my pullets or hens, I practically never see them squat for me but I see them squat for the cockerels and roosters. That's usually when the boys dance for them but I've seen a few squat to try to entice a male. Since you have a cockerel there is less chance of you seeing them squatting for you than for others. Still possible, just less chance.

Mating Between Consenting Adults

1. The rooster dances to show his intentions. He lowers a wing and sort of sidesteps around the hen.

2. The hen squats. This gets her body on the ground so the rooster's weight goes into the ground through her body instead of just her legs. Most roosters of the same breed as the hen are heavier than the hen so the squat is nature's way of protecting her legs and joints.

3. The rooster hops on and grabs the back of her head. This head grab helps line him up right and helps him keep his balance, but the main purpose is to tell her to raise her tail up out of the way so he can hit the target. Without the head grab he would not be able to get to the target so there would be no fertile eggs.

4. The rooster touches her vent with his. That deposits the sperm. This may take a couple of seconds or may be over in a flash.

5. The rooster hops off, his part is done. The hen stands up, fluffs up her feathers, and shakes. This fluffy shake gets the sperm in a special container where it can stay viable from a week to maybe three weeks.

It doesn't always go this way between adults. Sometimes the rooster does not dance but just grabs and hops on. No harm no foul, but it shows he does not have the self-confidence he should. Sometimes the hen runs away instead of squatting. The rooster may let her go or he may give chase. If he chases the hen may squat, she just wanted to know he was serious. He may stop the chase pretty quickly and let her go. He may chase her down and force her. As long as she squats and is not injured it's all OK. Even when he forces her it is usually not very violent.

Chickens are 18 weeks old now: blue laced Wyandotte (one pullet and one cockerel), one buff Plymouth Rock (her chick mate died), two Black Stars, and two Ideal 236s. Online it says all of these breeds will begin laying from 20-24 weeks, and the Wyandotte from 18-23 weeks. I curious as to what I should see with squatting before laying eggs.

These are just averages. You need enough of any breed for averages to mean much. If I have 10 pullets of similar breeds I might see one or two laying before 20 weeks, may not. Often about half of them will be laying by 24 weeks. Typically all of them will be laying by 27 to 28 weeks. But these are averages. I've had a few pullets lay their first egg at 16 weeks. I've had some pullets not lay their first egg until 9 months. If you only have one or two, do you have an early starter, a late one, or an average one?

The odds are you will start seeing eggs pretty soon. Good luck!