Are there any indicators that 1st laying is going to begin?

[mochicken]

I have 3 Black Sex Link girls that I was reallllllllllllllllllllllly wanting to lay eggs lol. I asked on here and got the same answer, when their comb and wattles turned red, one of them is still a little pinkish but is laying but they other two were spot on. When they turned red within 7-10 days they started laying and 2 of them are laying every day now and one is just started laying, ironically enough the one that is just started laying has the darkest red comb and wattles so maybe that is just a heads up that they will soon start laying but she held out for something lol, although her first egg was much larger than both of the other girls eggs, even though they have been laying for 1-2 weeks.

I would take the advice of the others here and get ready because you will be "in the eggs" in no time

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Good opportunity to get her used to your handling her, too -- she thinks you are the roo if she did it near you -- I just petted a little then sort of scratched one of mine at the neck and just above the tail when she started this with me. She is now my pet, I can pick her up any time, and she always comes up to me.

 

[equinelyn]

Quote:
Haha so true. I noticed mine started to squat when I went to pick them up. And soon after that some little eggs started showing up in the nesting boxes.

 

[mochicken]

do they squat to protect their unborn eggs or?

 

[dsqard]

Quote:
Actually, they are squatting to allow for mating. They will do it even if you don't have a rooster because they think of you as the rooster.

 

[SueSteeves]

LOL! Wow, it cracks me up to think that my little girls think I am their rooster! I was wondering what the squatting thing was all about. Oh, and so far only one of my pullets has started laying, but she was acting very anxious and pacing her run and being very vocal for a few days before laying. Hopefully her two sisters will start laying any day now as well.

 

[happymom99]

Quote:
I totally believe it. I am glad there are people here that can relate because I am already so excited that I feel a little bit ridiculous about it. I am like a kid waiting for Christmas.

 

[happymom99]

Quote:
Good opportunity to get her used to your handling her, too -- she thinks you are the roo if she did it near you -- I just petted a little then sort of scratched one of mine at the neck and just above the tail when she started this with me. She is now my pet, I can pick her up any time, and she always comes up to me.

Thanks for the tip! I would love to be able to pet mine. I picked up my cochin the other day but I don't think she was lovin' it. They've only been here a week though and they have already gotten so much more comfortable with us.

 

[happymom99]

Eva (the Black Austrolorp) keeps going into the coop and doing her chicken thing in there. She is fluffing up the bedding and walking around. I think she is "nesting"!

I hope she lays in the nestboxes. I noticed that she moved all of the shavings around on the poop board as well as in the corner of the coop and also in the nestbox. I can see two different spots where you can tell that she sort of dug the shavings out and then nestled herself down in there.

Maybe in the next few days! I am going to wear out the latch if I don't control myself and stop checking the nestbox.

CJ

 

[poseygrace]

They are totally getting ready! Mine thoroughly investigated the nesting boxes a few days before laying. I noticed a lot of feathers in there, and they had obviously been rearranging the wood chips. Let us know when you get some "action!"