Chicken, stopping when l go to pick her up

[BlueO]

Hello everyone! So recently, I noticed one of my hens who is the most confident and comes right up to me when being hand fed has been stopping when I go to pick her up. I’m not sure what kind of behavior this is. I walk up and stretch out my arms as I’m going to pick her up or pet her and she kind of squats down and opens her wings a little bit and doesn’t run off. None of my other hens do this. Does anybody know what she’s doing? Is she scared or happy? I’ve never seen this happen before.

Any help would be very appreciate! Thank you!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How old is she? Sounds like what pullets do when they are getting old enough to start laying. Are her comb and wattles getting bigger and redder? Those are also signs of maturity. If you haven't yet, start providing oyster shell in a dish she can help herself to and put fake eggs or golf balls in the nests. Let us know when you get your first egg, it shouldn't be long now!

 

[aart]

She's probably 'submitting'......squatting to be mounted by a male chicken.
How old is she, in months?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Hens squat down like that to show submission and show a rooster that they are ready to mate. If she is young she is likely going to start laying eggs soon as it is a sign they are maturing.

 

[BlueO]

How old is she? Sounds like what pullets do when they are getting old enough to start laying. Are her comb and wattles getting bigger and redder? Those are also signs of maturity. If you haven't yet, start providing oyster shell in a dish she can help herself to and put fake eggs or golf balls in the nests. Let us know when you get your first egg, it shouldn't be long now!

She’s about 4 to 5 months now. I did notice Her comb and waddles did pump up a bit. And I actually just got the first egg about a week ago but I think it was laid by a different chicken who also has very red comb and wattles.

 

[BlueO]

She's probably 'submitting'......squatting to be mounted by a male chicken.
How old is she, in months?

OK. She’s about 5 months.

 

[BlueO]

Hens squat down like that to show submission and show a rooster that they are ready to mate. If she is young she is likely going to start laying eggs soon as it is a sign they are maturing.

OK, thank you. My flock is of all hens. Do you think that she would still do that even though they’re all girls? I just got the first egg about a week ago, but I think it was laid by a different chicken.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Your the bringer of treats, feed, watch over and protect them. You are their flock leader, so essentially YOU are the rooster.
At that age if she just started squatting she is either laying or close to POL (point of lay) and yes... Without having a rooster to over see the girls they will normally continue to squat for you, their flock leader.

When she squats, give her some pats on the back. She'll then stand, shake and fluff up her feathers and continue on with her day.

 

[StinkyAcres]

OK, thank you. My flock is of all hens. Do you think that she would still do that even though they’re all girls? I just got the first egg about a week ago, but I think it was laid by a different chicken.

Yes, they'll still squat for humans and even other hens when there are no roosters. Not all hens will do it - it depends on their personalities.