Can you feel the nearly ready to lay egg in the oviduct?

[Jynestia]

My oldest hens are 16 weeks and youngest are 14 weeks. Mostly production reds, 3 easter eggers, one black astrolorpe (thinks shes a duck...) and generic pullets. I think they might be gold sex links but I'm not sure (But I AM sure they are GORGEOUS!)

I regularly go out and catch as many as I can via bribery to give them a thorough going over to make sure they are healthy.

Today while handling one yellow hen I felt a strange lump in her soft belly area. I gently felt around it trying to figure out if it was her hips and I was just holding her at an odd angle, or something of concern. Gentle prodding got me excited because its egg shaped, and sized, and very near her vent! I tossed out a HUGE chicken scratch bribe to get the whole flock near and was able to feel the same lump in one of my Easter Eggers too. Two of my production reds have smaller less firm bulges in that area.

I felt up a couple of my cockrels for good measure and not one had the same.

Is it safe to say I might be expecting my first eggs in the morning??

 

[GitaBooks]

Yep! You can feel eggs before they are laid, so I would think that was the case. Of course, the same opening also lets out other things, like droppings (yuck).

Congrats if they are eggs though! Hens generally start laying around 6 months, or so I've read.

Sounds like your chickens are taken good care of.

Best of luck!

 

[Jynestia]

I've read 16 - 24 weeks. I was prepared for 6 months but hoping for sooner.

If it's a poo I feel sorry for the poor thing... That would be one ENORMOUS chicken poo. The only other think I could consider was the gullet, because I know that is pretty firm but I wouldn't think it would be so near her vent. But they are very good foragers and the little piggys often already have crops stuffed full when I bring out the feed and they dig in like they haven't seen food in days. Since they all share a feed bin I gave them oyster a little while ago just in case as a free choice in case any were close to laying. I read only the ones that need it will eat it. They scarfed it in a day and I decided not to give it again for worry they were eating it when they didn't need it. If I have eggs in the morning I'll give it back.

They've been showing some signs of nearing maturity lately. They have scratched out nests under some young trees with tall grass in the yard, and defend them from the dog, cats, and even the kids! My 6 year old got pecked in the knees for kicking their little nest. (that'll learn her lol)

We made them nest boxes a few weeks ago which went untouched at first, but after we put dummy eggs in we can tell they've been laying in them since the straw has been shifted and settled. The ones I felt bulges in have the brightest combs too. All of my cockerels went bright red over the weekend. My pullets and following one by one, and their combs are enlarging.

I can't wait for morning!

 

[GitaBooks]

Probably eggs!

I read somewhere its just 20 weeks as well, so I'm not sure why the information is so mixed up. The bright red combs and the behavior seems to point towards laying.

Good luck!