New layer squatting A LOT. Is this normal?

[ForFlocksSake]

My flock is just starting to lay. I know squatting is their way of accepting a mate (we don’t have any roosters) but my leghorn who started laying last week is squatting a crazy amount. Every time I walk into the run she gets in front me me a just stands there squatting with her wings slightly out. She even blocked the run door this morning squatting. Wouldn’t move even with me nudging her a little with the door. I had to actually push her out of the way to get in. She seems completely healthy and has been laying consistently since she started. Is squatting this aggressively normal behavior?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not worry about it. It will lessen as time goes on. Before I had roosters (they won't squat for humans if you have a rooster) I would just give them a pat, and they do the shake dance and go on.

Mrs K

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I would not worry about it. It will lessen as time goes on. Before I had roosters (they won't squat for humans if you have a rooster) I would just give them a pat, and they do the shake dance and go on.

Mrs K

Thank you! I’ve been giving her little pets each time and I’ll continue. It’s wild because she was so flighty prior to this. I haven’t been able to get near her since she was about 6 weeks old! Now I can pet her, pick her up, anything.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Some ladies are a little more... amorous.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

Some ladies are a little more... amorous.

You just made me spit my coffee out. Haha

 

[thecatumbrella]

It’s wild because she was so flighty prior to this. I haven’t been able to get near her since she was about 6 weeks old! Now I can pet her, pick her up, anything.

I could have written this word for word. Our comet was so sweet and easy to handle until about a week after we moved them outside. Couldn't get near her until she started squatting at 20 weeks. Now we're buddies again. I don't get chickens

 

[Justicedog]

I could have written this word for word. Our comet was so sweet and easy to handle until about a week after we moved them outside. Couldn't get near her until she started squatting at 20 weeks. Now we're buddies again. I don't get chickens

Same here. My leghorn started squatting for me when before I was the scarier than Freddie Krueger. So, I give her a back rub and she then fluffs her feathers and does a little shake.

 

[User690263]

That is completely normal. My Buff Orpington hen squats every time I walk past her, but my Blue Australorp only does it for my younger brother who almost never interacted with her.

 

[TLynne1]

I would not worry about it. It will lessen as time goes on. Before I had roosters (they won't squat for humans if you have a rooster) I would just give them a pat, and they do the shake dance and go on.

Mrs K

Interesting! The 2 with waddles started squatting this morning! They are 20 weeks old now. I just put the nesting boxes out this week with a fake egg. When I went in to check the ice level, instead of running from me. They squatted. Had not seen that before!! After reading, I see it's normal. All 4 of my buffs are female. I have no eggs. Does this mean eggs may be coming soon!?

 

[Mrs. K]

Should be getting closer, I figure a month after their wattles and combs turn bright red, about 2 weeks after they begin squatting. Someone else posted that they thought they would lay in a few days. I hope you post back how many days.