Close to eggs?!!

[Cayuga momma]

You should be able to put two finger tips between her pelvic points. If you can, then she is ready to lay.

 

[West11]

Just checked all 4 of them. She was the closest as 2 fingers almost fit. I had one that not even a finger would fit. Take oyster shells away or will they be fine? The one pictured earlier i guess just matured faster?

 

[aart]

Thank you! I have golf balls in their boxes and today was the first time I noticed one of them squat when I walked up to her! When checking her pelvic points what am I looking for exactly? An egg?

Up in my other post is a link that explains how to.

 

[West11]

I’ve checked them. The original pictured rooster can almost fit 2 fingers with gloves on. She was the widest all the way down to my smallest one that not even a finger would fit. I was told earlier today that they were born in March. Shouldn’t they be laying by now?

 

[aart]

I’ve checked them. The original pictured rooster can almost fit 2 fingers with gloves on. She was the widest all the way down to my smallest one that not even a finger would fit. I was told earlier today that they were born in March. Shouldn’t they be laying by now?

You mean pullet, right
Yeah, she looks ready,
and the point spread confirms she's close...but it still might be a week or two.

When they begin to lay is very variable.
Most breeds start between 18-28 weeks old.
Nutrition and time of year can be important variables.
I have 21wo pullets now that only 2 out of 9 are laying.
Sunlight is waning quickly, that can make a big difference.
Plus you just moved them, so that may slow things a tad too.
Chickens can teach you patience....or not
As Blooie likes to say.... "they're not pez dispensers".



FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[West11]

Yeah I meant pullet lol I wish I knew the weeks exactly but all I know is they were born in March. They are in the old coop which is plenty big enough for 4 hens but I’m currently building a much larger one for them inside of their free ranging area. Would this stress them out again?

 

[aart]

Yeah I meant pullet lol I wish I knew the weeks exactly but all I know is they were born in March. They are in the old coop which is plenty big enough for 4 hens but I’m currently building a much larger one for them inside of their free ranging area. Would this stress them out again?

It might....depends on how you transfer them over.
Even tho the new coop will be open and ready for residents, they will probably, out of habit, go to the smaller coop to lay and roost. Eventually you may have to confine them to the new coop for a few days/nights to 'home' them to it. You can do this all of a sudden or more slowly to reduce the stress.

 

[Cayuga momma]

My oldest pullet (leghorn) didn't lay till 22 weeks. I could fit 2 fingers between her pelvic points at 18 weeks. Her comb was red and floppy at 18 weeks, but she still didn't lay till 22 weeks. My exchequer leghorns comb is smaller and flops a bit, but she layed at 19 weeks. It all depends on the chicken.
I also just adopted 7 hens and I thought the move would stress them, but they kept right on laying.
I know it gets exciting and intense waiting for them to start laying, but all we can do is wait.

 

[Capoken]

I noticed that my RIR that are laying have combs so big that they are "floppy". The combs really wiggle around a lot while they move. It looks like the comb of your RIR is not quite as big as mine were when they started laying - you may have a few more weeks to wait. My RIR that looks like yours is not laying yet. Two of her sisters matured faster, have even larger combs, and are laying.

 

[West11]

I noticed that my RIR that are laying have combs so big that they are "floppy". The combs really wiggle around a lot while they move. It looks like the comb of your RIR is not quite as big as mine were when they started laying - you may have a few more weeks to wait. My RIR that looks like yours is not laying yet. Two of her sisters matured faster, have even larger combs, and are laying.

She’s the only one with a comb her 3 sisters combs are not even starting to stick up yet. I was told today they were born in March by the lady I got them from. 6 months and no comb? Seems odd