Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Steve.]

A friend recommend when the hens squat to give their tails a tug till they fluff their feathers to 'increase egg production'.

 

I have done this to our chooks .... and my wife is getting jealous.

 

Do you do this to your chooks and has it made any difference?

 

I have noticed the hens being a lot more friendly ... and squatting has increased considerably ... they queue up for a second helping

[Chickvic]

I've never heard of this so no I haven't done it. My girls usually lay every day so I can't see how it would increase egg production So long as your girls are enjoying it!

[Electricbarbarella]

what, eh, hu?????????????????

[Egluntyne]

No.

[Gallina]

I pick mine up when they squat for me, as it seems so rude to ignore them. If I am worried about getting dirty, I do pat them on the back instead.

[Lesley]

erm...........no

[mrsallen08]

I have never heard of it either so thats a no from me! I usually give them a lil pat when they do it! They look so worried when they are squatting!

[bokbokbok]

Maybe you need another option:

 

I don't but now you have put the idea in to my head maybe I will look in to it!

 

Again, I haven't heard of this one - but everything I know about chickens I have learned on here!

[cluckbok]

Are you having a laugh withus? Is this true??

 

Never heard of that before?

 

We just stroke and cuddle our hens. Think will stick to that.

[josephine77]

they queue up for a second helping

 

You'll get yourself a reputation if you're not careful

 

I've honestly never heard of this...I wonder what the thinking is behind it?....worst thing is, I have this niggling little urge to try it now to see what happens

[Steve.]

My friend's thinking behind it was that it simulated the cockerel impregnating the hen and also sets the pecking order.

 

It's very funny to watch ... give it a go!

 

As for reputation ... I'm a newbie and was led astray by a seasoned Chicken Rancher.

[Steph101]

No.

I thought this was a bad thing?

[bokbokbok]

I just tried it with Izzie when I was giving her a cuddle and worked out that it must be something to do with the cockerel malarkey - then came back to share to find Steve had already said it!

 

There may be something in it . .. ?

[jomaxsmith]

I don't tug their tails (but might now try to see if they like it ) but my always does the fluffing thing if I've picked her up or even just stroked her.

 

Jo

[Ain't Nobody Here]

New one to me too . I'll have to try it now, naturally .

 

I will report back on whether my OH gets jealous too .

[Lydia]

Well I'm not convinced the two things are connected but........

 

Ablett has never laid a proper egg all the time she's been with us. Every day she lays a softie which she then eats. On Saturday we pulled her tail and on Sunday she laid her first full egg!

 

We await today's results with interest...

[dancing cloud]

Tug their tails? I've never tried that, but I'll give it a go (in the privacy of my own garden )

 

Are you supposed to do it at any particular time? Or just when you can grab a chook? I presume you're not supposed to pull very hard? - some of mine still haven't got that many tail feathers

 

Unfortunately my current freeloader Dandelion is the one that won't let me touch her at all but I could try it with the others.