The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: loosey on May 05, 2011, 09:10:55 am

Title: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: loosey on May 05, 2011, 09:10:55 am

Morning all  :wave:

Does anyone know why my chickens sit down when I walk past them? They are very confident, so I don't think they are scared (they quite often sit on my knee if I'm chatting ourside!)

Does it mean anything? I can't tell which ones are which so I'm not sure if it's all of them or just a couple! ::) :)

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: Sylvia on May 05, 2011, 09:39:41 am

The sight of something looming over them usually means a cockerel with naughty intentions and hens, not being "new women" think "Oh, God, let's get it over and done with!" That's why they squat!! :chook:

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: loosey on May 05, 2011, 10:21:09 am

Oh no! Poor girls! No cockerels here yet, so they're safe for the time being! Thank you! :wave:

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: crosser on May 05, 2011, 10:25:27 am

my hens do this too...  i usually give them a little rough rub on there back and then they have a good shake of there feathers then wander off to do there own thing.....

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: Frieslandfilly on May 05, 2011, 10:38:38 am

Natural instinct!

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: little blue on May 05, 2011, 08:53:07 pm

And they stick their wings back & up ... like an old woman hunched up!
"Think of England!" springs to mind...  :D

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: daddymatty82 on May 06, 2011, 07:15:49 pm

it means there laying eggs try it with a hen thats not laying you will see what i mean. also it makes it easier to catch them  get close and stick hand over them and they squat pick them up give them a cuddle and bobs ya uncle and you know the rest

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: Dizzycow on May 06, 2011, 07:19:31 pm

Yep, agree with Think Of England! Only one of my chickens does it and I never knew why until I got more and realised that this behaviour is not so that a chicken owner can conveniently pick up the chicken for a bit of a chat, but definitely meant for the lads. Most of my chickens just run like mad when the cockerels are let loose first thing in the morning, but this behaviour is sometimes displayed by the more wanton of the flock. Tut.

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: robert waddell on May 06, 2011, 07:44:50 pm

so the hens are gouping for it  :o imagine what like our towns and city's would be like on a Saturday night if every female was thinking of Britain

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: Dizzycow on May 06, 2011, 09:19:27 pm

Been to Newcastle recently?  ::)

Title: Re: Why do my chickens sit down?
Post by: robert waddell on May 06, 2011, 09:24:24 pm

only passed through it twice         is it good entertainment :wave: