So my 6 young RIR's have just started laying. I'm not sure which ones. Now whenever I go into the coop one hen squats down and raises her wings. Could someone tell me why she's doing this?
She is 'assuming the position' to be mated by a rooster....if there is not a rooster in the flock, they will do that when people approach and/or pet them.
Oh, boy, this brings back memories. When I first had chickens one started doing this to me. I was asking my questions on an alt. site I cannot get to any more. I title this question "Cringeing chicken" and swore I had never beaten her and why would she do this? I think the others on the group got a good laugh from this greenhorn. Now when they do this, not having a rooster, I gently grab their backs just over the tail and shake them gently, saying, "here's that old bad rooster!". Then they shake it off and walk away, certainly thinking I am the biggest rooster on earth.
Pullets start doing this crouching or squatting behavior 1 to 2 weeks before they begin laying eggs, so in combination with red comb/wattles, it's a good sign that a pullet will begin laying very soon. They'll typically continue this squatting behavior as long as they're laying. Older hens will do this as well, but I've noticed that my hens stop this squatting behavior when they're molting, probably because they don't lay when they molt and they don't like being touched when pin feathers are coming in.