Red combs?

I understand red combs a sign they that my Pullets will lay soon. Any one have an idea how long soon might be.

I put fake eggs in the nesting boxes and they keep kicking them out. They end up in one corner of the coop? I also saw one pecking at the fake eggs should I be concerned about egg eating?

My girls are about 24 weeks old I have three BO and one Sussex. thank you for your help.

Any time now.....good luck!

Here is a photo of my BO at 23 weeks



Here she is now at 25 1/2 weeks (not laying yet)



I think it varies from chicken to chicken on when they will lay.


Here is a photo of my BA at 24 weeks.



Here she is at 28 1/2 weeks on the right (not laying yet, but has started to squat)

My Buff Orpington doesn't look anything like yours at 25 1/2 weeks. She's 31 weeks old today and is between the two pictures you have. With winter fast approaching I wonder if she just will hold off until Spring.

My girls faces are just as red but their combs are much smaller.

Dose the size matte or is it just the color?

Any one have a comment about them kicking the fake eggs out of the nest?

21 weeks next Monday ( not laying yet )

Another one 21 weeks next Monday ( not laying yet )

newchick1358 said:

I understand red combs a sign they that my Pullets will lay soon. Any one have an idea how long soon might be.

I put fake eggs in the nesting boxes and they keep kicking them out. They end up in one corner of the coop? I also saw one pecking at the fake eggs should I be concerned about egg eating?

My girls are about 24 weeks old I have three BO and one Sussex. thank you for your help.

Click to expand...

newchick1358 said:

My girls faces are just as red but their combs are much smaller.

Dose the size matte or is it just the color?

Any one have a comment about them kicking the fake eggs out of the nest?

Click to expand...

The fact that they are kicking the eggs out means they are checking out the nests, and that's a sign they may be near to laying.

If the fake eggs are too lightweight (hollow plastic easter eggs can be filled with sand) or the front of nest is too low (should be about 3-4"),
then yes, stuff will get kicked out of nest. They also will not scratch around quite as much after they've been laying for a few weeks,
even if fakes are heavy and fronts are high stuff can still get kicked out at first.

The pecking at the eggs is probably just curiosity.



New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying, spreading the bedding everywhere.They will scratch around a bit less in nest as they get used to the routine. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

2 bony points(pelvic bones) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying