Are they close???

[Melissal5]

I put up nesting boxes two weeks ago and nobody was interested and now today there were a handful of chickens inspecting them and some getting in them and kicking around bedding. Does that mean they will lay soon? Some have bright big red waddles and comb and they are 18 weeks old and some 16 weeks old.

 

[orloffer]

Some of them definitely look like they could begin laying soon, judging by those nice red combs.

 

[Kdlevesque]

Are any of them doing the submissive squat? All of mine started doing it right before they started laying. My older girls are all 4 1/2 years old now so I don’t get very many eggs from them but I can always tell who is laying at the time because they do their little squat. My new girls just turned 12 weeks old so I know they will be laying one of these days.

 

[Melissal5]

I thought there was one squatting like 2 days ago but now shes not so I'm not sure. Do they have to do it or just some do it?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Looks like you'll be getting some tasty eggs soon! It's always so exciting!

 

[Mamatomany123]

Maybe. This girl has been like this for a month and finally laid today.

 

[Kdlevesque]

I have friends that have chickens that don’t Squat but all of mine always have so I guess it really just depends but if you do catch them squatting it’s normally about a week to two weeks before they actually lay their first egg at least in my case.

 

[Kdlevesque]

I have friends that have chickens that don’t Squat but all of mine always have so I guess it really just depends but if you do catch them squatting it’s normally about a week to two weeks before they actually lay their first egg at least in my case.

An added bonus is that it makes them super easy to catch

 

[aart]

some getting in them and kicking around bedding.

This IME is the best sign that eggs are very close.