Is there signs that a hen is ready to lay?

post #21 of 61

8/10/08 at 11:09am

Thread Starter

ticks
Pheasant Obsessed

Location: The Sticks, Vermont
Joined: 4/2008
Posts: 3,475
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Ok, I put out some nesting boxes. They are old maple sugaring buxkets, I put in some sawdust. The hens with the red combs and wattles looked at it and are the most curious. Should I put some golf balls in it?

RSL, PR, BR, GL, EE hens... more chicks to come.

Reply

RSL, PR, BR, GL, EE hens... more chicks to come.

Reply

post #22 of 61

8/10/08 at 11:16am

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain
Chick Magnet

Location: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Joined: 3/2008
Posts: 7,984
offline

Select All Posts By This User

That might help them get the idea...

Thanks Ticks! wink

Reply

post #23 of 61

8/10/08 at 11:21am

Thread Starter

ticks
Pheasant Obsessed

Location: The Sticks, Vermont
Joined: 4/2008
Posts: 3,475
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

That might help them get the idea...

Thanks Ticks!

thank you.

RSL, PR, BR, GL, EE hens... more chicks to come.

Reply

RSL, PR, BR, GL, EE hens... more chicks to come.

Reply

post #24 of 61

8/10/08 at 12:29pm

chick4chicks

Location: N.E. Pa.
Joined: 4/2008
Posts: 1,563
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Ticks, here's hoping you soon get eggs. I have Red Sex Links and they started laying at 15 weeks, so good luck. Your first egg is a real hoot.

God is Love Mom to 2 dogs, 5 cats, 4 Red Sex Link , 4 Golden Comets, 1 Blue,2 Buff 2 Black Cochin, 2 Black Jersey Giant , 1 Partridge Rock, 2 Black Australorp, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 4 Barred Rocks, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Light Brahma, 8 EE's,12 Banty's 1 buff orp. roo 1 blue orp, 2 GL Polish cross,1 blue Ameraucana,3 Speckled Sussex, 4 Khaki Campbells, 1 Blue Rex and 1 Dutch Bunny 1 B/W rex

Reply

God is Love Mom to 2 dogs, 5 cats, 4 Red Sex Link , 4 Golden Comets, 1 Blue,2 Buff 2 Black Cochin, 2 Black Jersey Giant , 1 Partridge Rock, 2 Black Australorp, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 4 Barred Rocks, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Light Brahma, 8 EE's,12 Banty's 1 buff orp. roo 1 blue orp, 2 GL Polish cross,1 blue Ameraucana,3 Speckled Sussex, 4 Khaki Campbells, 1 Blue Rex and 1 Dutch Bunny 1 B/W rex

Reply

post #25 of 61

8/10/08 at 12:50pm

vfem
Yoga...The Chicken Pose

Location: Fuquay Varina, NC
Joined: 8/2008
Posts: 7,284
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt A NC

Red comb and wattles is one that everyone looks for.

If you pet your chickens quite a bit then they will probably start squatting for you a week or 2 before the first egg. This the squat a hen does so the rooster can get on. Hard to describe, but you will know what it is when you see it.

Matt

Would this happen to be them walking and then getting in a nesting position with there head lower then usual, and their tail high?

I'm dying to figure out when our 28 week old silkie will lay, and she's been out walking very little and just kinda stopping in random spots to sit like that for awhile. Then she goes off and pecks and sits again.

I'm hoping for some kind of sign soon!

Jams & Italian Biscotti BYC members get 10% off: code "BYC10" at checkout. http://BiscottiQueen.Etsy.com

Want to learn more about our garden and get help w/ recipes and garden advice. Visit us here:

http://FromSeed.blogspot.com

Reply

Jams & Italian Biscotti BYC members get 10% off: code "BYC10" at checkout. http://BiscottiQueen.Etsy.com

Want to learn more about our garden and get help w/ recipes and garden advice. Visit us here:

http://FromSeed.blogspot.com

Reply

post #26 of 61

8/10/08 at 1:06pm

Thread Starter

ticks
Pheasant Obsessed

Location: The Sticks, Vermont
Joined: 4/2008
Posts: 3,475
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by chick4chicks

Ticks, here's hoping you soon get eggs. I have Red Sex Links and they started laying at 15 weeks, so good luck. Your first egg is a real hoot.

woot so soon!

RSL, PR, BR, GL, EE hens... more chicks to come.

Reply

RSL, PR, BR, GL, EE hens... more chicks to come.

Reply

post #27 of 61

8/10/08 at 1:21pm

BowChickaBowMow

Location: Northern Michigan
Joined: 5/2008
Posts: 213
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Silly question... but where can you get straw from? I've seen hay for sale, but not straw?

Mama to a zoo! Rowdy boys: ages 12, 8 & 4 and their sweet sisters ages 6 and 2! Family pets include 6 laying EE's and their beautiful EE Roo, 2 beautiful BO gals, a couple cheeky spunky white silkie bantams (recently adopted), and 2 wonderful rambunxious 6 month old puppies. See their photos at www.myspsace.com/heathersfunnyfarm click on "pics" under the profile picture (an EE)

Reply

Mama to a zoo! Rowdy boys: ages 12, 8 & 4 and their sweet sisters ages 6 and 2! Family pets include 6 laying EE's and their beautiful EE Roo, 2 beautiful BO gals, a couple cheeky spunky white silkie bantams (recently adopted), and 2 wonderful rambunxious 6 month old puppies. See their photos at www.myspsace.com/heathersfunnyfarm click on "pics" under the profile picture (an EE)

Reply

post #28 of 61

8/10/08 at 1:28pm

DensJewel

Location: Ohio
Joined: 4/2008
Posts: 3
offline

Select All Posts By This User

I have a question about the first few eggs a chicken will lay. I found a really small egg in the yard it's about 2 inches long. My chickens are about 6 months old now an should start laying anytime. My questions is...could this really small egg be from one of my chickens or just a stray bird egg from somewhere? Thank you in advance ...i'm a first time chicken owner...... roll tongue cool

5 acres 3 dogs including a Great White Pyreense puppy 2 cats 1 bird and alotta fish oooona yes a husband and kids...now trying to raise 12 chicks.....

Reply

5 acres 3 dogs including a Great White Pyreense puppy 2 cats 1 bird and alotta fish oooona yes a husband and kids...now trying to raise 12 chicks.....

Reply

post #29 of 61

8/10/08 at 2:03pm

lemurchaser

Location: Corvallis, OR
Joined: 4/2008
Posts: 938
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by DensJewel

I have a question about the first few eggs a chicken will lay. I found a really small egg in the yard it's about 2 inches long. My chickens are about 6 months old now an should start laying anytime. My questions is...could this really small egg be from one of my chickens or just a stray bird egg from somewhere? Thank you in advance ...i'm a first time chicken owner...... roll tongue cool

Sounds like a chicken egg. The timing is right for your girls, and sometimes the inexperienced ones don't make it to the nest box.

I have my 2 dogs (pit bull type dogs), 2 cats, and the chicken crew: Mabel (partridge rock), Eleanor (EE), Mildred (BLRW), Victoria (welsummer), Helen (EE), Norma (SLW), and Maxine (Columbian Wyandotte), Mathilda (Blue Rock) and Ester (BCM), all on my suburban "farm".

Reply

I have my 2 dogs (pit bull type dogs), 2 cats, and the chicken crew: Mabel (partridge rock), Eleanor (EE), Mildred (BLRW), Victoria (welsummer), Helen (EE), Norma (SLW), and Maxine (Columbian Wyandotte), Mathilda (Blue Rock) and Ester (BCM), all on my suburban "farm".

Reply

post #30 of 61

8/10/08 at 2:29pm