Kedreeva Whitemane | Artemis Squatting (Lordosis) @KedreevaWhitemane | Uploaded October 2020 | Updated October 2024, 16 hours ago.
So when you approach a hen at the correct speed and angle, if they are ready to breed they do what is called lordosis (squatting). This behavior is one performed for the male birds to enable copulation, BUT this behavior can also be triggered by humans if the birds are used to their caretaker and is indeed often seen by those raising chickens (and often mistaken by new owners as the bird wanting to be pet). This is actually a really good behavior to keep an eye out for in younger fowl, because it can indicate when a hen is ready to start laying eggs before you find the first one (which can be useful if you're trying to get them to lay in a specific place and need to contain them until they learn). I triggered this (harmless) response on purpose today so I could get a video of it to show to a friend as an example of what to look out for.
So when you approach a hen at the correct speed and angle, if they are ready to breed they do what is called lordosis (squatting). This behavior is one performed for the male birds to enable copulation, BUT this behavior can also be triggered by humans if the birds are used to their caretaker and is indeed often seen by those raising chickens (and often mistaken by new owners as the bird wanting to be pet). This is actually a really good behavior to keep an eye out for in younger fowl, because it can indicate when a hen is ready to start laying eggs before you find the first one (which can be useful if you're trying to get them to lay in a specific place and need to contain them until they learn). I triggered this (harmless) response on purpose today so I could get a video of it to show to a friend as an example of what to look out for.
