Behavior leading up to first egg

[Iluveggers]

I am anxiously awaiting a first egg from our hens. I hope this thread is helpful for those wondering what to look for in outlining my observations as we wait until “first egg day”.

Outline:
I have 10 hens in my flock, ranging from 22 to 25 weeks. As it is November, daylight is lessening so that might delay the laying of many or all of them.

About a week ago, I noticed one of my hens squatting. When I put my hand above her, she will move low to the ground, and push her wings out to the side like she is balancing. Her comb has gotten bigger, and both her comb and wattles are bright red instead of the pinkish color of the rest of my flock.

She has also been super vocal…very loud and squawking a ton, much more than any other hen, and for no particular reason that I can see.

 

[Iluveggers]

Last night, she went to roost at dark, and I heard her sing the song typically associated with egg laying (believed it might be a nest escort request). When I locked the coop, I checked under her just to make sure, but there was nothing there.

 

[Iluveggers]

Fast forward to this morning. Thanksgiving. She has been squawking so much my dogs keep wanting to go outside, thinking something is wrong. She sat at the oyster shell container for about 10 minutes, eating after she ate from the regular chick feeder after being let out. She went into the coop making a huge ruckus, and when she came out, I immediately went to check. No egg yet.

 

[Iluveggers]

She has been in and out of the coop multiple times this morning. I went to check again. Still nothing.

She has been in the coop, squawking and screeching, nonstop, for about 5 minutes straight. I will time her and update in a bit!

 

[3KillerBs]

Is she determinedly kicking every last scrap of bedding out of the nest and throwing all the fake eggs on the floor?

My POLs always seem to do that.

 

[Iluveggers]

She has done that the last two days. So far 25 minutes of on & off squawking. Will pop out of the coop and then right back in. I wish I could help her!

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

She has done that the last two days. So far 25 minutes of on & off squawking. Will pop out of the coop and then right back in. I wish I could help her!

She is definitely Ready to lay,when my hen layed her first egg she was the first in her flock and it took her 3 days to get it out. Mine was very restless the hours leading up to her first egg so it think it could come at any time. Good luck

 

[aart]

When PULLETS(not hens until one year of age) get close to laying they surely can act the fools.
......and noisy ...Geez, I once had to close my house windows because a group of POL pullets made such a raucous cacophony I could not hear to work over the phone.

 

[Iluveggers]

(I know she is still a pullet…it’s like when I call my puppy “dog” before it grows up!) But thanks for the clarification!

She is on the nest…after about 30 minutes of SQUAWKING, she’s been in there & quiet for about 30 minutes.

 

[TooCheep]

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.