Unsecure chicken perches

[squidsin]

This is actually another excuse to boast that my buff pekin Goujon LAID HER FIRST EGG TODAY! But the crouching thing is weird - she looks as surprised to find herself flattened and apparently stuck to the ground as I am for doing that to her! Can anyone tell me why they do it please?

[The Dogmother]

They are deferring to you as the 'cockerel' or provider in their flock. It is what they do as they approach and go into sexual maturity and are ready to start to lay; if you see chickens mating, then this is the position that the hen adopts.

[squidsin]

I don't know whether to be flattered or slightly freaked out that my hen would let me have sex with her, even though I am about 100 times her size, female, and a different species!

[The Dogmother]

my daughter refers to it as 'lap dancing' they are just deferring to you as their provider - a role normally taken on by the cockerel in their flock.

 

Some of mine crouch, some never have.

[Lewis]

my daughter refers to it as 'lap dancing'

I like that one