Any signs of first egg soon?

[jennychick45]

I just realized that I have had my oldest chickens for 16 weeks and when you buy them from a feed store aren't they already like 4 weeks old or so? Anyways I just put out the first nesting box and will put the rest out today. I am also a little worried about the first egg because they are free range chickens during thee day and only come in the coop to roost at night and eat sometimes during the day. Are there any signs of the chickens getting ready to lay? These are my first chickens so fingers crossed.....

 

[LRH97]

Chicks are usually sent from hatcheries as day olds, so they are not much older than this when they arrive at the store. I have seen some that were probably a week or two old that have been there a while, but I haven't seen many that were as old as a month. The first sign that a hen is getting close to laying age is the reddening and enlargement of the combs and wattles. Then it's just basically a waiting game. If you see a hen messing around in a nesting box at this age, you'll probably get an egg. Or, if your hens are like most of my first time layers, you'll find eggs everywhere BUT the nesting box.

 

[jennychick45]

Chicks are usually sent from hatcheries as day olds, so they are not much older than this when they arrive at the store. I have seen some that were probably a week or two old that have been there a while, but I haven't seen many that were as old as a month. The first sign that a hen is getting close to laying age is the reddening and enlargement of the combs and wattles. Then it's just basically a waiting game. If you see a hen messing around in a nesting box at this age, you'll probably get an egg. Or, if your hens are like most of my first time layers, you'll find eggs everywhere BUT the nesting box.

thanks hopefully they will use them! how old are your chickens now and how long have they been laying?

 

[LRH97]

thanks hopefully they will use them! how old are your chickens now and how long have they been laying?

I have about 50 ranging from three months to two years. I have twelve currently laying. Production has dropped off some here in So. IL. because it is HOT.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I just realized that I have had my oldest chickens for 16 weeks and when you buy them from a feed store aren't they already like 4 weeks old or so? Anyways I just put out the first nesting box and will put the rest out today. I am also a little worried about the first egg because they are free range chickens during thee day and only come in the coop to roost at night and eat sometimes during the day. Are there any signs of the chickens getting ready to lay? These are my first chickens so fingers crossed.....

Generally speaking, the chicks at the feed store will be 2-10 days of age (usually on the 2-5 end of that range due to the speed with which they sell in prime chick season). What did your chicks look like when you got them - were they adorable fuzz balls, really funny looking half-vulture looking things or did they look almost like miniature chickens complete with feathers?

 

[jennychick45]

some were little fuzz balls and the rest were half feathered but not completely

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Okay - so your birds were definitely less than a moth old - likely in the 3-10 day range

 

[jennychick45]

Okay - so your birds were definitely less than a moth old - likely in the 3-10 day range

Thanks !!

 

[jennychick45]

Okay - so your birds were definitely less than a moth old - likely in the 3-10 day range

Wait so if I have had them for 16 weeks when will my barred rocks start to lay

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Wait so if I have had them for 16 weeks when will my barred rocks start to lay

Anytime between now and a few months from now - there is no real way to answer as even the range of "normal" for the first egg can be quite a spread of time for any given breed. The comb/wattle generally reddens, they may begin to give you a "squat" if you approach them or reach down to touch them, etc -- all signs that they may begin to lay soon.