19 weeks; eggs soon?

[Vickydolittle]

I've been looking for eggs since my chickens turned 16 weeks (I have cinnamon queens among other breeds, but apparently they're supposed to lay "sooner"? ) I will post a before (16wk) pic compared to now (19wk) picture. I have several chickens who are going from pink to red wattles and combs and are getting much bigger now! I found a couple hens in the nest box the other day! However, they aren't squatting at all. Do they always squat before they lay? They are quite a bit more vocal sometimes, but I wouldn't say I hear an egg song. More just communicating or alerting. I live in texas so it won't get cold for a while (my part of texas anyway). However, I've heard that if they don't start laying by fall, you won't get any eggs until spring. Their hatch date was May 22. Anyone think I'll get eggs soon? I figured my easter eggers will make me wait as their combs don't seem to be making any progress. They are still on a 20% chick starter feed. The "scraggly" chicken pictures are when they were 16 weeks. They definitely look more filled out now at 19 weeks. Any advice is welcome! Thank you! Pray for me to get some eggs please

 

[Logar]

Very pretty chook you have got there! Yes, you will probably get an egg within a couple weeks. 2/6 of mine laid before they started squatting. And one of the others started squatting only a day before she laid. the other 3 took 4-14 days after squatting before they started laying. I would keep them on either chick starter or switch to an all flock pellet, I much prefer pellets over crumbles, rather than use layer pellets and just provide oyster shells on the side.

 

[TooCheep]

I know it is impossible, but don't sweat it. They'll lay when they are ready and no sooner. Squatting is common, but not universal. Spending some time investigating the nesting boxes is also promising, but not as reliable as squatting.

Do you have any form of fake eggs in the nesting boxes? Since it looks like they free range at least part time, you want them to associate the nest boxes with eggs so they don't lay in random locations.

Don't be surprised if any particular chicken lays in a random location the first time or two. It's fairly common until they figure out that "that feeling" means that an egg is coming and they should head to the nest boxes.

 

[Vickydolittle]

Very pretty chook you have got there! Yes, you will probably get an egg within a couple weeks. 2/6 of mine laid before they started squatting. And one of the others started squatting only a day before she laid. the other 3 took 4-14 days after squatting before they started laying. I would keep them on either chick starter or switch to an all flock pellet, I much prefer pellets over crumbles, rather than use layer pellets and just provide oyster shells on the side.

I wanted to switch to an all-flock, but my local feed store doesn't have one. However, they do have a higher-protien layer pellet that I was thinking about putting them on next.

 

[Vickydolittle]

I know it is impossible, but don't sweat it. They'll lay when they are ready and no sooner. Squatting is common, but not universal. Spending some time investigating the nesting boxes is also promising, but not as reliable as squatting.

Do you have any form of fake eggs in the nesting boxes? Since it looks like they free range at least part time, you want them to associate the nest boxes with eggs so they don't lay in random locations.

Don't be surprised if any particular chicken lays in a random location the first time or two. It's fairly common until they figure out that "that feeling" means that an egg is coming and they should head to the nest boxes.

I've been meaning to get some golf balls or something for fake eggs to teach them, I just keep forgetting. They do have a good sized coop and run area, so I've also been keeping them in there until about 1pm to hopefully get them to lay in the boxes as well.

 

[WingItRanch]

You're close! I'm in Texas too and one of mine started laying last week and one started yesterday. There's no guarantee but I bet you get eggs soon.

I've heard that if they don't start laying by fall, you won't get any eggs until spring.

Not always. I read a couple threads with people saying their pullets started laying in December.

Chickens like to keep us guessing!

 

[Logar]

I wanted to switch to an all-flock, but my local feed store doesn't have one

chewy has a bunch of different options if you don't mind ordering online

 

[aart]

Squatting is common, but not universal. Spending some time investigating the nesting boxes is also promising, but not as reliable as squatting.

I've found squatting to come way before(couple three weeks) nest messing. Nest messing happens within days of eggs appearing.

Here's some tips that might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Vickydolittle]

You're close! I'm in Texas too and one of mine started laying last week and one started yesterday. There's no guarantee but I bet you get eggs soon.


Not always. I read a couple threads with people saying their pullets started laying in December.

Chickens like to keep us guessing!

I'm just so excited! These are my first chickens

 

[rosemarythyme]

I found a couple hens in the nest box the other day! However, they aren't squatting at all. Do they always squat before they lay? They are quite a bit more vocal sometimes,

No they don't all squat before laying (and some won't squat at all) - my flock tends to squat because I actively encourage it (I follow them around and make scrunching motions with my hand). The exploration of the nests is a good sign though, as well as a pick up in vocalizing, so some of the pullets are probably fairly close to laying, though the shortening daylight hours might delay things slightly.