1st time laying hen act any differently? Am I causing a delay by how I feed her?

[Chickie YumYum]

Newby here. Just did what grandmothers told me to do when young. Just got 4 hens last week of different weeks of age, 2 Orps and 2 Astrolopes and 1 Americana rooster. My oldest is one of the Orps and prior owner said she should start laying at any time. Will she act any differently right before she lays for the 1st time (I know I would )
And I just read I've been giving them too much scratch.I mix my grit and scratch for them to find, give them feed every morning that they have eaten by the next morning. Will any of these make her late laying 1st time? I just want to be prepared since the others are coming along. Thanks
Lisa

 

[FlyAnywayAJ]

Just moving to a new home will delay their laying, by a couple week to a month in my experience.
Before she lays you may notice her acting odd. They sometimes do little practice squat before they start laying. It's adorable.
I don't think too much scratch would delay laying, but I am not sure.
Welcome to chicken tending!

 

[FrostRanger]

No, you're not causing a delay, but I'd stop giving them so much scratch 'cause too much scratch is unhealthy for them. I would also just keep a small container of some sort for grit and another for oyster shell so they can have it as they need it. When they get close to being ready to lay, their combs will turn red, they may inspect the nest box, and many pullets will squat when approached. Hopefully they'll be giving you lots of eggs soon!

 

[GlicksChicks]

The hens will squat when you touch their back when they are about to lay. Shows that they are becoming sexually mature.

Scratch will not delay laying. I mix scratch into my chicken's food every day and they are all healthy and laying like champs. I know a professional chicken breeder who gives his roosters scratch feed all the time, and his hens a mix of scratch and layer. All are healthy, gorgeous, and not cheap chickens. He knows what he is doing, so I like to take tips from him! He has been doing it for at least 50 years!

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Just moving to a new home will delay their laying, by a couple week to a month in my experience.
Before she lays you may notice her acting odd. They sometimes do little practice squat before they start laying. It's adorable.
I don't think too much scratch would delay laying, but I am not sure.
Welcome to chicken tending!

Thank you. She's the sweetest of the bunch and is the Louise to the Thelma. One day first of the week I found her sitting in the pen where she'd scratched out a little bowl shaped hole. She was just sitting there but I thought she looked adorable. Should have taken a photo.

 

[nuthatched]

Scratch and treats like that should be less than 10% their diet.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Thank you. She's the sweetest of the bunch and is the Louise to the Thelma. One day first of the week I found her sitting in the pen where she'd scratched out a little bowl shaped hole. She was just sitting there but I thought she looked adorable. Should have taken a photo.

They have been in coop and run so far until I know I can catch them in a hurry if I need to. We have a lot of chicken predators. Going to let them out to check out the back yard next week since I'm planning to free range as long as coyotes stay away.
Plus going to add more wire higher up on wooden fence and fold it out to deter climbing. Only my Roo Roo has been out so far. I forgot to close the top of the run. He brained himself this morning thinking I'd accidently left out open again. I think him landing on his butt in front of the girls hurt his pride

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Scratch and treats like that should be less than 10% their diet.

Thank you. My grandmothers always just gave me a pail and said pitch all this to the chickens and fill the feeder. I never asked what was in the bucket.