Are my hens being sneaky, or just not laying yet?

[Hesitantkarma13]

Hi everyone!

I got my first hens this year, 2 Easter Eggers that are 18 weeks, 2 Buff Orpingtons that are 17 weeks, and a Silver Laced Wyandotte that is also 17 weeks. They spend the night in their coop, but I let them out first thing in the morning and they free range the neighborhood all day and come home to eat, drink, beg for treats, etc. They spend a lot of time in some bushes between my yard and the neighbors, and the last few days one of the Buffs is singing an "egg song" in there every now and then. I've looked around under the bushes, and don't see any eggs. There are also none in my coop, except the ceramic kind I put in there for inspiration. I know they're still a bit young for laying, but the mystery egg song worries me, and so does the fact that they seem uninterested in their coop until bedtime. (Though lately they want to roost on top of it instead of in it, but that's a problem for another thread....)

I'd like to avoid locking them in the coop, because even though it has a small run attached it's too small for 5 chickens, which is apparently a common beginner mistake that I'll be correcting before winter.

So, long story short...is my hen hiding her eggs, or just testing out her voice? And will my girls be likely to lay in the coop they roost in, or out in the neighborhood somewhere? Thanks in advance!


Here's a picture of the main offender taking a break from yogurt time to pose for you:

 

[junebuggena]

That one Orpington and the Wyandotte look like they are close to laying, 17 weeks is still a bit early. Get that run done ASAP. Young, newly laying pullets don't know to lay their eggs in the nest boxes. They will start laying where ever they feel like it, if there aren't any older hens to show them what to do. Once they start laying in a chosen spot, it can be difficult to convince them to lay somewhere else. Chickens are creatures of habit, after all. It's not uncommon for hen to hold off on egg laying for a day or to if they can't lay in their chosen nest. Confining them is the best way to make sure that they learn to use the nest boxes.
As for the egg song. It's not specific to egg laying. Yes, most hens will do the egg song after laying an egg, but that's not the only reason to make that call. They do it as a kind of chicken "Marco, Polo." It's like their saying, "I'm over here, where are you?" I have one girl that likes to do it just for fun.

 

[aart]

That one Orpington and the Wyandotte look like they are close to laying, 17 weeks is still a bit early. Get that run done ASAP. Young, newly laying pullets don't know to lay their eggs in the nest boxes. They will start laying where ever they feel like it, if there aren't any older hens to show them what to do. Once they start laying in a chosen spot, it can be difficult to convince them to lay somewhere else. Chickens are creatures of habit, after all. It's not uncommon for hen to hold off on egg laying for a day or to if they can't lay in their chosen nest. Confining them is the best way to make sure that they learn to use the nest boxes.
As for the egg song. It's not specific to egg laying. Yes, most hens will do the egg song after laying an egg, but that's not the only reason to make that call. They do it as a kind of chicken "Marco, Polo." It's like their saying, "I'm over here, where are you?" I have one girl that likes to do it just for fun.

Ditto Dat^^^



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!

2 bony points on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.