Are my hens going to lay soon?

[Chicken Fruit]

Morning all.

I am so exasperated! I sold most of the chicks from the shipment that these remaining pullets came from, and the one gal I sold to has eggs already- from two hens!! Where are mine?! her's started laying over a week ago. AHHH! lol.

Anyway, about a week ago I noticed two of my BA's had red red red HUGE wattles and combs and such. And a few days ago they started singing their glory like a hen would if she just laid an egg. Maybe theyre practicing? My LB rooster has been courting them, rather forcefully and against their will for a while now, but this morning I caught him pecking one of the hens and she squated right down. Even when I went in the coop and got near them they hunkered right down like they were waiting for me to romance them or something... lol!

I had left them inside all day last sunday to see if maybe they WERE laying and I was missing it in the yard. I even started letting them out more around 11-12 instead of 9 in case they were waiting until they got out to lay. Today I've decided to just confine them for a few days and see how they make out.

What do you all think? Am I getting close to eggs, or do you think they've been sneaky and laying withuot me knowing in the yard some where?

 

[Chicken Fruit]

oh, theyre 20 weeks

 

[al6517]

It should be soon, but can still take awhile for some breeds. Try as hard as it seems to be patient and they will come.

AL

 

[GardeNerd]

That first egg is exciting and I understand your impatience. I keep mine locked in as much as possible. That red red comb and wattles is a give away that they are close. However, you could be waiting until 24 weeks or more. There is a lot of variability in when they start, but most folks say 20 to 24 weeks is typical for most breeds.

I wait to let my girls out in the late afternoon or around dinner time since they are also 20 and 21 weeks. I don't want to be going on an egg hunt in the dense foliage of my garden. My one that is already laying is usually between 10 am and 3 pm. I have two others with really red combs and wattles so I feel the same anxiety.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Awww come on people, i was hoping someone was going to say "oh my gosh they are so laying right now! You're missing it!" lol. FOUR MORE WEEKS? AHHH!!!

 

[GardeNerd]

My Hyline got extremely noisy in the week leading up to laying (and still noisy half the day) about 2 weeks after she turned red in comb and wattles. She also sings the egg song, but she is mixed up and sings before she sits in the nest.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

HAAAAHAHAHAHAA! I found our first little egg this very morning!

oddly enough, i think my quiet little cochin laid it. hehe

 

[GardeNerd]

Quote:
Yeah! Congratulations!