Scooby Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I've been reading a lot on the forum about crouching and how you may be able to tell if your girls are ready to lay. I'm still confused though - Florence didn't crouch at all before she started laying although her face did get very red - The other two girls have been playing a bit of a game with me I think as they keep going quite red then being quite pale again. I have noticed though that they do keep "crouching". Now, I'm not sure if this is actual crouching as described in various threads, or if this is something entirely different, as what they are actually doing is kind of putting their chins on the floor and walking backwards whilst sticking their rears in the air It's quite entertaining to watch though as they always end up bumping into something! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 The red face thing I have had two with two of my pure breeds, they are bright red one day then pale again the next. With them I think its cause they are mature enough to lay hance the mature redness but its the wrong time of year for them to actaully lay. Is it pure breeds or hybrids that are doing this for you? With the crouching I found it hard to tell at irst and mistook funny behavior for crouching, but I found the sure fire way was to make a quite swift downward motion with my outstretched hand towards them, and if they are crouching they squat and sort of put their wings out to the sides as if waiting for you to board and sort of 'freeze'. If they are not crouching then just just peg it as soon as I go near them lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 The other two girls have been playing a bit of a game with me I think as they keep going quite red then being quite pale again. One of my pepperpots did this for about a week before she started laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Hi, Clover, our cream legbar hybrid has been "blushing" for a few weeks now, she is well and truley ready to lay (36 weeks!) on minute she would be bright red, the next she would be very pale. She's just preparing to lay. As for crouching, our girls hunch their shoulders up, with their tale on the floor, when we walk past them or go to stroke or pick them up. Although Magic crouches when Gemma (top chook) walks past . Not all of our girls crouch though, it depends on the breed I think. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted December 12, 2007 Author Share Posted December 12, 2007 Is it pure breeds or hybrids that are doing this for you? All my girls are pure breeds. I think the "crouching" thing may well just be odd behaviour then as they tend to run away if you try and stroke them unless you happen to have food with you at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Sorry I just noticed in your sig they are Pekins, they tend to stop laying this time of year, I have a friend who has kept them for a number of years. So it may be that they have reached the maturity hence the red faces, but its to late in teh year for them. Last year my friends laid their last egg on Xmas day and started again early March I believe. So you will prob be waiting till next spring now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 All my pure breeds do the lapdancing thing! I have to be careful not to drop-kick them as they do it in front of me when I'm walking down the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 When mine crouch, they bob a curtsey. They don't put their chins on the floor or walk backwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Like my girls Egluntine When you paddle their backs like a cockerel, they stick their botties out and wiggle suggestively! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I pick them up for a cuddle when they curtsey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 me too, it's about the only time I can get hold of them - they're all far too skittish in the winter when they're not laying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I have one...Artemis Fowl...a Pepperpot who has never crouched and is almost impossible to catch. I have to resort to using my sons landing net. Quite a sight ...me hurtling around with a net that is bigger than I am!. I only do it if she has got a grotty botty or I think she needs a bit of powder under her arms and around her nether regions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I love the emoticon Egluntine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Cute innit. I found it by chance a while back and have wanted a reason to use it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I wasn't sure how to recognise a crouch or squat but when it happened there was no mistaking it. They do indeed "freeze", flat down on the ground with their elbows (?) stuck out to the side. You can stroke them or pick them up and they don't try to run away at all. I just love the fact that they think we are cockerals - what wee dafties . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Iremmeber the first time that Phil saw it - he hadn't believed me - he was at my house during the day and called me at work to tell me that one of the girls was shaking her stuff at him like a shameless hussy! I think he was quite flattered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...