So I just got home from work and was out chatting with the girls. I went into the garden shed to get them some scratch and they followed me as usual. Usually when I turn around to come out of the shed they'll scatter in different directions to make sure they are not under foot, but tonight Lacey dropped into a squat. I laughed and stopped moving, so she started to walk again. Then when I approached again, she dropped into another squat with her wings slightly held out from her body. I squatted down and was able to put my hands on her - first time ever when she's free!
Is that squatting thing a sign of her getting closer to laying eggs??? Please tell me yes! I can't wait for all this stinking money I've put into the girls to start producing lovely fresh eggs!
Is she showing signs of being ready to lay?!?
I am very new to chickens, but so far I found with my girls, they lay within days af starting that.. and I love it.. I can finally pet them on a regular basis..
Yes! She is "assuming the position" and eggs are soon to come!
sweet that means one of my cochins is "assuming the position".
It has to be the cutest thing yet. She just did it a couple more times when I was out and about in the yard.
She is squatting to mate not lay she see's you as her superior and she is submiting to you as head hen. If you ignore her when she does it she will soon stop.
One of mine did something funny today. They were out and she was nesting down in the soil when one of the ducks disturbed her. She got up and ran in a way that reminded me of my sons as toddlers when they had a load in their diapers! LOL I figured she was about to lay an egg but I never found one.
MollyD
I Don't ever ignore them.. I knew why they did it.. I just like to romantisize the ladies "bowing" to me. It slows them down, I always take a minute to pet them, occasionally I will pick them up and coo to them.. all in all a very special minute spent with my girls.. no matter the whys and wherefores they really squat.
I personally would never want them to stop.
Thanks for the logical explanation Harmony!
I personally dont' want her to stop either. I like being able to pet her. I tried it again today and she wasn't doing it as much... then again, she'd just laid an egg (SEE OTHER POST!!! --- can you tell I'm excited? ;)). I thought maybe she only did it when she, er, had a load. HA!
I know it is to submit to mating too--but they don't do it when they are broody, or immediately afterwards--they seem to be willing to mate at the same time they are prepared to lay eggs--which makes sense.