When springtime comes around, you most likely will notice that your chickens start behaving differently. Hens may begin to squat before laying or stop and squat while walking.
When a hen crouchs down and sets her feet on the ground, she probably flattens her back and tucks her head in. Having a flock for the first time might make you wonder why a chicken squats down when you come close.
Seeing your chicken squatting and walking in an unusual manner can be concerning. However, there are several potential reasons why a chicken may squat while walking. By understanding the causes, you can take steps to help your squatting chicken.
What Does a Squatting Chicken Look Like?
A squatting chicken will walk with its legs in more of a squatting or crouching position, rather than standing upright. The chicken’s body may appear closer to the ground and its legs may seem splayed out to the sides more than usual.
In severe cases the chicken may actually touch the ground with its keel bone as it moves around. It may have difficulty standing fully upright. The chicken may move slowly and seem hesitant or unstable when walking.
Common Causes of Squatting in Chickens
There are a few possible explanations for a chicken that squats while walking
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Molting – Molting is the natural shedding and regrowth of feathers. During a molt, new pin feathers are painful as they grow in. Discomfort from molting can cause a chicken to squat down as it walks.
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Vent issues – Problems like pasted vent, vent prolapse, or an egg stuck in the vent can all cause a hen to squat while walking. The discomfort and pain leads to unusual posture.
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Egg binding – An egg that gets stuck in a hen’s oviduct can press on internal tissues. This can make standing upright very difficult and painful. A bound up hen will often squat as she moves around.
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Marek’s disease – Marek’s is a viral disease that affects nerves It can cause partial paralysis in chickens, making it hard for them to stand properly. Squatting can be seen in chickens with leg paralysis from Marek’s
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Bumblefoot – Bumblefoot is a staph infection of the foot. Having sore feet with bumblefoot lesions can make a chicken squat down when walking to relieve pressure.
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Nutritional deficiencies – Deficiencies in certain vitamins like biotin and riboflavin can potentially lead to abnormal gaits in chickens. Squatting may be seen if deficiency is the cause.
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Injuries – Trauma to bones, tendons or nerves in the legs and feet could result in an altered, squatting gait as a chicken tries to compensate.
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Deformities – Birth defects affecting leg and foot development could make upright walking difficult or impossible for a chicken. Genetic conditions may lead to squatting.
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Old age: Chickens can get types of arthritis that make it painful for them to stand up straight as they age. Elderly chickens may increasingly walk in a squatting position.
What to Do For a Squatting Chicken
Depending on the underlying cause, there may be steps you can take at home to help a squatting chicken:
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Provide soft bedding to make walking easier. Shavings or straw can cushion sore feet.
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Isolate the chicken to reduce competition for food and water access. This removes stress.
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Check for mites or lice, and treat if found. External parasites can contribute to molting and stress.
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During molting, protect the new feather growth with a hen saddle. This can reduce discomfort.
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Increase protein in the diet to support molt. High protein treats like cooked eggs can accelerate feather regrowth.
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Apply petroleum jelly to any pasted vents to gently loosen and remove dried feces. Keep the area clean.
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Give a bath in warm Epsom salt water to soothe vent issues, bumblefoot infections, and arthritic joints.
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Supplement vitamins like biotin, riboflavin, and vitamin E to address possible nutritional deficiencies.
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Administer antibiotics if an infection like bumblefoot is suspected as the cause.
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Increase calcium intake to support egg production and prevent binding in laying hens.
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Apply hot compresses and lubricants to help pass stuck eggs. Only do this gently if the hen strains, as it can harm internal tissues. Seek vet care if egg binding is suspected.
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Cull chickens that test positive for Marek’s to prevent spread. There is no cure for viral nerve damage.
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Provide anti-inflammatory medications to reduce arthritis discomfort in elderly chickens. Check with your vet for dosage.
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Seek veterinary care for injuries, lasting illnesses, or to diagnose the cause in severe, ongoing cases. Physical therapy may help some issues.
While seeing a chicken squatting abnormally can be worrying, being aware of the potential causes can help you identify any underlying issues and take steps to make your hen more comfortable. In most cases, some TLC and a little intervention can get a squatting chicken back on her feet. But veterinary assistance may be needed for lasting or undiagnosed conditions. Catching squatting early and taking action gives your hen the best chance at recovery.
What’s Behind a Chicken’s Squatting Behavior
Birds squat, which is also called “lordosis,” when they crouch to the ground, flatten their back, spread their wings, and lower their tail. Farmers often call this position the “chicken submissive squat” because it makes the chicken look weak. ”.
There are two main reasons a chicken may display this squatting behavior — as a mating signal or as a form of protection.
When hens reach egg-laying maturity, they will signal roosters that they are receptive to mating by squatting down. If a hen is fertile and ready to mate, they will often squat down when a rooster comes near. You can be sure that your hens will start laying eggs soon after you see them crouch.
Because this behavior is a submissive signal, some younger hens might also squat in front of chickens that are higher up in your flock’s pecking order. They may even squat down when you pet them because of how strong their instinct is.
Some chickens may also squat as a way to protect themselves. That’s why chickens squat when you pet them. Even if they are receptive to a rooster, mating is often a rough process for hens. When breeding, some roosters may tear feathers off the hen’s neck or scratch her back with his talons. A hen squatting allows them to protect vulnerable areas of her body, like her stomach and head while still helping her stay upright.
Crouching also offers protection from predators — if a chicken is squatting in place, they attract less attention and present a smaller target. Just like in mating, their underbelly will also be more protected if the predator tries to attack.
Hey Phill! Why is my Moulting Chicken Walking Backwards? #chickens #hen #feathers #moulting
FAQ
Why is my chicken walking crouched down?
The crouching down is a natural submissive behavior. Hens crouch around Roos so they can be mounted. It has nothing to do with wanting picked up. All laying hens do this.
Why does my chicken squat when I walk up to her?
There are two main reasons a chicken may display this squatting behavior — as a mating signal or as a form of protection. Oct 15, 2021.
What does it mean when a bird squats?
They squat down to show that the bird doesn’t want to do what you want it to do, which is usually to stay out of the cage after having fun outside. Being clever, the parrots learn that ‘collapsing’ like this brings a few more minutes extra attention, and so they turn it into a habit.
Why is my chicken walking weird?
A chicken walking strangely can be due to various reasons, including injuries, illness, or even just a temporary issue like a molt.