Question about Behavior in Pullet Close to Laying First Egg

Plant City Newb

In the Brooder
Feb 11, 2016
41
2
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Plant City, FL
Good morning.

I have a small flock and I'm fairly new to chicken keeping. My girls are getting close to the time when they'll start laying (one is getting really 'squatty' around me). Yesterday, when my girls were out for their afternoon free ranging I saw one relax her feathers to poop. Then she kept her feathers relaxed and seemed to be straining a bit and I could see her vent was a little pushed out. I got the girls back into the run and checked her out. Her vent was back to normal. A couple of hours later I checked her again and her vent still looked fine. It was pulsing a bit, but I don't know if that was from being ticked off at being picked up again or something else. This chicken does not like being touched one bit!

My question is this: Is this a normal behavior for pullets getting ready to lay their first egg? All of the girls have gotten their wattles and their combs are red and have split at the top. So I know they're close to laying. I can imagine how weird body changes must be to them (as a female, they have my sympathy!). I did check their pelvic bone width this past weekend and they're all widening.

Any advice would be wonderful.

Thanks.
 
Good morning.

I have a small flock and I'm fairly new to chicken keeping. My girls are getting close to the time when they'll start laying (one is getting really 'squatty' around me). Yesterday, when my girls were out for their afternoon free ranging I saw one relax her feathers to poop. Then she kept her feathers relaxed and seemed to be straining a bit and I could see her vent was a little pushed out. Not seeing the behavior firsthand I can not answer positively. More than likely it was nothing more than a passing strain. I got the girls back into the run and checked her out. Her vent was back to normal. A couple of hours later I checked her again and her vent still looked fine. It was pulsing a bit, Often the case when being examined.but I don't know if that was from being ticked off at being picked up again or something else. This chicken does not like being touched one bit!

My question is this: Is this a normal behavior for pullets getting ready to lay their first egg? All of the girls have gotten their wattles and their combs are red and have split at the top. So I know they're close to laying. I can imagine how weird body changes must be to them (as a female, they have my sympathy!). I did check their pelvic bone width this past weekend and they're all widening.

Any advice would be wonderful. Likely the behavior has nothing to do with egg laying, but it never hurts to remain observant; just in case.

Thanks.
 
The only tale tale sign ive found to hold try 100% for me is when a rooster starts breeding a pullet and she actually lays down for him. When that happens eggs are within a week out. Just had another start laying yesterday and i had seen this so i already knew it was coming... hasnt failed yet.
 
The only tale tale sign ive found to hold try 100% for me is when a rooster starts breeding a pullet and she actually lays down for him. When that happens eggs are within a week out. Just had another start laying yesterday and i had seen this so i already knew it was coming... hasnt failed yet.

X 2.
 
I once saw a 13 week old pullet squat for a 13 week old cockerel. She did not lay her first egg for about another month and a half. That behavior was about dominance, not fertilizing eggs. Squatting is just a clue they might be thinking about laying. It’s a good clue but not always certain.
 
Thanks all for the replies. I checked her out this afternoon and her vent was fine. Then while the girls were out free ranging I saw this same chicken relax to poop again and she had the bulge again. I'm thinking prolapse. But when I checked her a little while later there was no prolapse. So it seems to be pushing out when she has a BM and then going back inside afterwards. I cannot find anything about this in and out prolapse-like thing. Anyone ever hear of it/see it?

BTW-no rooster around. She's a pullet and hasn't laid her first egg yet. She's looking good, eating fine and hanging with her peeps with no problems.
 
Hi i was wondering what happened with your chicken? I have an EEgger that is 18 weeks old and has been straining to poop it kinda sounded like what you were seeing was she egg bound or was it something else?
 
Hi i was wondering what happened with your chicken? I have an EEgger that is 18 weeks old and has been straining to poop it kinda sounded like what you were seeing was she egg bound or was it something else?
Now I'm wondering too....maybe @Plant City Newb will come back and tell us?
 
My pullet is doing this too, I don’t know what to make of it. No rooster. Following phases of our other pullet, reddened comb, rounded out in shape, squatting, etc I reckon this pullet is a day or two away from laying first egg. I’ve seen her pulsing to poo yesterday and a couple of days ago. Normally they just poo & carry on. Same vent bulging when straining, but then goes back to normal. They’ve been eating and drinking well.
 

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