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Barnyard Buddies:  chicken behavior question  |
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prairie_princess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Elizabeth
Carpenter
WY
USA
613 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 10:14:27 AM
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i have rhode island reds... and every once and awhile if you're walking towards them, they'll crouch near the ground, put their head down, and kind of hunch their shoulders and wings... why do they do this?!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 1:28:49 PM
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do you have a rooster? I have had hens without a rooster who did that, and I was told by several chicken experts that its "hormones", if you know what I mean, lol.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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prairie_princess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Elizabeth
Carpenter
WY
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 2:37:39 PM
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no, we offed the rooster a few weeks ago... hmmm, hormones huh? why do they do it when DH and i approach! ha ha!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 4:10:58 PM
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They are hopeing that you and your hubby will scratch the itch, lol.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 5:02:31 PM
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This is a breeding gesture.
It means they are receptive to a rooster's advances.
sometimes they do it when I go to pick them up.
When this happens, I talk sweetly, and rub them all over. It's funny when they dust themselves off like they would w/ a rooster. Sometimes they make a funny sound too. |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2009 : 5:57:50 PM
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Mine do this too. I heard it was because they view you as the dominant caretaker a job generally meant for the rooster. Its a sign of respect and submission. I give mine a ruffle of the featerhs and they love it.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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prairie_princess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Elizabeth
Carpenter
WY
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - Sep 01 2009 : 05:56:28 AM
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yes, i did notice they act more gentle when they do this, so we also pet them and they just sit there enjoying it, making soothing sounds (does anyone else find hens' sounds soothing? i think they should make one of those relaxation tapes with 'hen sounds' on it!!!) they seem alot more docile and curious about us now that the rooster is gone...
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
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yasmine
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
yasmine
wappingers falls
ny
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2009 : 1:07:16 PM
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mine too. haha.
Annab, You are right. That's what I think |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2009 : 10:32:46 AM
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And at the opposite end of the spectrum i'll occasionally get one of our little bantam roostes to dance in front of me.
That usually happens after I pick him up and coddle for a few minutes then put him back down |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: chicken behavior question |
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chicken behavior question
