I'm not arguing that the squat isn't submissive, I'm arguing that it's not fearful. Chickens are flock animals, and have a clear sense of dominance and submission built into their instinctive behaviors. They're submitting and getting ready to be mounted. It started after they started laying - their chicken sexuality kicked in.
I have 2 hens that usually won't squat for me: the Egyptian Fayoumis (Flower) and the Black Australorp (Shadow). They will both, occasionally, squat for me. When they've had a lot of human contact, yard time and snacks, they don't do it. The Aussie tries to dominate me, when she's in the mood, and will turn to attack and bite when I try to pick her up. When the hens are out in the yard and don't want to go back to the coop/run they run away from me. Even Ginger, the Red Star, who is our most friendly and tame, will run away if she thinks I'm picking her up to go back to "lockup."
Conversely, they were all squatting when I visited them during the recent Arctic cold snap here. They hadn't had much human contact, and had been locked in the coop for days on end; even the Fayoumis squatted for me briefly. Shadow didn't try to bite me.
I have 2 hens that usually won't squat for me: the Egyptian Fayoumis (Flower) and the Black Australorp (Shadow). They will both, occasionally, squat for me. When they've had a lot of human contact, yard time and snacks, they don't do it. The Aussie tries to dominate me, when she's in the mood, and will turn to attack and bite when I try to pick her up. When the hens are out in the yard and don't want to go back to the coop/run they run away from me. Even Ginger, the Red Star, who is our most friendly and tame, will run away if she thinks I'm picking her up to go back to "lockup."
Conversely, they were all squatting when I visited them during the recent Arctic cold snap here. They hadn't had much human contact, and had been locked in the coop for days on end; even the Fayoumis squatted for me briefly. Shadow didn't try to bite me.
I still disagree. If you look at the chicken closely, it's staying still...almost playing dead without the full effect.
It looks more like a deep Kung Fu stance to me, trying to stabilize themselves for being mounted. My Buff Orp (Buffy) will actually turn to face away from me when she squats - to position herself.
It looks more like a deep Kung Fu stance to me, trying to stabilize themselves for being mounted. My Buff Orp (Buffy) will actually turn to face away from me when she squats - to position herself.
Birds aren't a huge fan of having a hand put OVER the back of their feathers.
The area of the lower back is very sensitive on chickens, cats, and humans. The area is stimulated during copulation.
The area of the lower back is very sensitive on chickens, cats, and humans. The area is stimulated during copulation.
If you pet under their wings with one finger, or the feathers around their neck, that is more of a pleasure spot for them.
True for parrots, I've met many parrots that will raise their wings to be petted there. Not so much for chickens - I've tried. They don't seem to care one way or the other. Mine like to have their wattles petted though.
True for parrots, I've met many parrots that will raise their wings to be petted there. Not so much for chickens - I've tried. They don't seem to care one way or the other. Mine like to have their wattles petted though.
