Behavior leading up to first egg

[Iluveggers]

I spoke too soon! Screeching just started again. Lol

 

[Iluveggers]

So…

Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a pic, next to a regular size egg!

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

So…

Happy Thanksgiving! Here is a pic, next to a regular size egg!

View attachment 3331985

Congrats its beautiful

 

[BirdLvr56]

Noisy, fussy pullets are one of the signs of coming to their first lay. The standard rule is:

Watched pullets never lay...

I'm expecting another couple of pages of reports before your first egg.

This is interesting. I have 5 14 wk old sapphire splash pullets. This week one started acting weird, a bit noisy and uncomfortable. She sat in a nesting box and every couple min she would get up and change position and cluck loudly. Next day she was fine. Yesterday another one started making quite a bit of noise and stopped participating in her normal flock behavior. Stood with her mouth open, like she was stressed or in pain. Today she's fine.

I'm guessing this is some kind of transitional phase to first egg. These are my first chickens so I really rely on this site for feedback and info. This breed is known to start laying around 17 wks and the weather here in northwest Florida has been warm for the most part.

What do ya think?

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

This is interesting. I have 5 14 wk old sapphire splash pullets. This week one started acting weird, a bit noisy and uncomfortable. She sat in a nesting box and every couple min she would get up and change position and cluck loudly. Next day she was fine. Yesterday another one started making quite a bit of noise and stopped participating in her normal flock behavior. Stood with her mouth open, like she was stressed or in pain. Today she's fine.

I'm guessing this is some kind of transitional phase to first egg. These are my first chickens so I really rely on this site for feedback and info. This breed is known to start laying around 17 wks and the weather here in northwest Florida has been warm for the most part.

What do ya think?

The noise is called an egg song,my flock goes crazy every time one of the chickens start singing. The first egg can be a stressful thing for the hen,so them breathing trough the mouth after pushing is totally normal. If there 17 weeks old it can be soon. Their comb will grow and become very red.
When my hen layed the first egg I was lucky enough to be in the coop when it happened and let me tell you the first egg is magical.
Is it your first time having chickens?

 

[BirdLvr56]

The noise is called an egg song,my flock goes crazy every time one of the chickens start singing. The first egg can be a stressful thing for the hen,so them breathing trough the mouth after pushing is totally normal. If there 17 weeks old it can be soon. Their comb will grow and become very red.
When my hen layed the first egg I was lucky enough to be in the coop when it happened and let me tell you the first egg is magical.
Is it your first time having chickens?

My pullets are 14 weeks. But the behavior is first egg behavior. Two of them did it for 1 day each. The sapphire splash like the sapphire gem, start young and lay a lot. So I've been told. This is hard on a new chicken keeper. I'm more nervous then they are..

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

My pullets are 14 weeks. But the behavior is first egg behavior. Two of them did it for 1 day each. The sapphire splash like the sapphire gem, start young and lay a lot. So I've been told. This is hard on a new chicken keeper. I'm more nervous then they are..

Haha I was also so nervous when mine started,it’s my first time having chickens too

how is there comb? Is it big,small,red or pink?

I have 2 black copper marans and I have been told they always start late,mine started at 17 weeks and I have been told that they start around 7 months so that was a shock.
The signs my chickens made was they were all very noisy and restless like in and out of the coop. They also started to eat a LOT more food than usual.

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

My pullets are 14 weeks. But the behavior is first egg behavior. Two of them did it for 1 day each. The sapphire splash like the sapphire gem, start young and lay a lot. So I've been told. This is hard on a new chicken keeper. I'm more nervous then they are..

Where are you located?
If you live in a place where it’s dark and cold rn I will say that they could take a little longer to start.
But if you live a place where the weather is hotter and it’s not dark at 4 every day there is better chance that they could start when they’re 17 weeks old

 

[BirdLvr56]

Where are you located?
If you live in a place where it’s dark and cold rn I will say that they could take a little longer to start.
But if you live a place where the weather is hotter and it’s not dark at 4 every day there is better chance that they could start when they’re 17 weeks old

Staying light till 5:45. 60s and 70s durng the day right now. Some days get colder. Northwest florida

 

[BirdLvr56]

Haha I was also so nervous when mine started,it’s my first time having chickens too

how is there comb? Is it big,small,red or pink?

I have 2 black copper marans and I have been told they always start late,mine started at 17 weeks and I have been told that they start around 7 months so that was a shock.
The signs my chickens made was they were all very noisy and restless like in and out of the coop. They also started to eat a LOT more food than usual.

Their combs are developing and getting pinkish red. I need an up to date pic. Hard to tell on the feed. I spoil the heck out of them and food is always available.