[Bigblacktaximan]

My choocks have all become reasonably hand tame fairly quickly, aided I'm sure by frequent hand feeding and attention 

from day one Ive adopted a 'no nonsense'  confident approach to picking them up carefully,   I've noticed that at times when I get close they sort of hunker down, tail up, wings slightly flaired, kinda position and shimmy (shake)

Is this a fear reaction ?  or does this in some way mimic their behaviour if they were about to be mounted by a cockerel ?

[Vember]

Hi Bbtman

Welcome to the Hen House

Your hens are thinking your the cockerel and are waiting to be mated 

It's great when you do want to grab them, saves you running all round the garden chasing them

Sarah

[Ma Lowe]

Hi There,

I would say yes it is them mimmicking  if they were about to be mounted by a cockerel ?
If the ones doing this action are not yet laying it can also mean they are becoming ready to lay.

[themagicaltoad1]

mine started laying about a week after they started doing this.

[Bigblacktaximan]

Thank you all for the input, and the welcome.

Good to know Im not scaring the .... chicken poo/eggs out of them then.