Is there signs that a hen is ready to lay?

That's so cool! Thank you for sharing the 'song'. I swear I've heard my Roos do that song. Mine are 16 weeks so my fingers are crossed and I wait anxiously!
 
19 weeks and still no eggs from my bsl. Hoping for one of the three to lay soon. Still no squatting, but they are big and their combs and waddles are fully developed.
 
I had my first egg 2 days ago! It was tiny and broken but I was still excited. Thought it was from my bantam Cochin but then the next day I found another in perfect shape and witnessed the Red Ranger who snuggled into a dog kennel the night before. Odd behavior but I let her be because I figured it was time. Glad I did. She slept in the coop last night but no egg.

My Reds are meat birds but I kept the girls to see if they'd produced. She went first so I hope she keeps up a good pace. The medium pinkish brown egg was adorable.

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I do notice the comb and face area is much redder but did not see any other signs besides sitting. Excited for the others to start laying.

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What about missing breast feathers? A new egg showed up yesterday from 16 week old Pullet and I have 6 so I don't know who laid it. My Swedish Flower Hen has lost breast feathers and it may be her. I can't post picture, but, would love to know who this egg belongs to.
 
What about missing breast feathers? A new egg showed up yesterday from 16 week old Pullet and I have 6 so I don't know who laid it. My Swedish Flower Hen has lost breast feathers and it may be her. I can't post picture, but, would love to know who this egg belongs to.
Not necessarily, never heard that one...it's a broody behavior, so could be hormonal.

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!

Vent:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying

Pelvic Points 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.
 
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I'M BACK! Two years ago I had to let my 2 girls be adopted. I live in the Florida Keys and didn't have enough space for them. No ventilation made very hot birds.
Now I've moved and have plenty of room and shade. Thank goodness because I've so missed having my girls. This time I have a small mixed flock. Rode Island Red, EE and Barred Rock. They are 27 weeks and no eggs yet. The RR and BR are squatting. The EE (PeeWee) isn't squatting and still real flighty. Her waddle and crop is almost nil. The other girls (Haze and Red) are glowing red.
I get about 12 hours of light a day so I thought they would be laying by now. Going to check the pelvic bones today.
Can't wait to find my first egg. (oops, need to update my profile picture)
 
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