Close to laying?

[Dcherie13]

I have two RIRs that are 19 weeks old. I’ve noticed their combs/wattles seem like they’ve gotten darker red in the last few weeks. Can’t say I’ve observed any squatting but they usually take off into the woods most of the day when I open the run! I’ll post some pics...do they look like they may be gettin close?

 

[sourland]

They're getting there. A couple more weeks and they will most likely begin laying.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Pick them up and check their pelvic bones.
If they are not more than two fingers apart, they're not ready.

 

[Dcherie13]

Pick them up and check their pelvic bones.
If they are not more than two fingers apart, they're not ready.

So I did this with both of them today and they are about 1 finger-breadth. One squats and the other does not, both combs and waddles seen larger and darker every day. When the pelvic bone is at 1 finger how long does it usually take before they separate to 2 or more?

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I really don't know but I know that about a week before she started laying my BO got VERY red in the comb and wattles and they got plump and lost that "dusty" look. Her pelvic bones had been at about 1.5 fingers for weeks before that happened---I grabbed her and found that she now measured three fingers. Can't say exactly when that happened but it seemed that her comb and wattles bloomed overnight.
Her squat also became very pronounced---almost flat to the ground with her wings slightly extended. She also would squat when I walked up to her, not just when I placed a hand on her back. She had been doing a little bit of a squat for weeks before that but when she was closer to laying her behavior and appearance changed noticeably.
Not all birds act the same though, but if the pelvic bones have not separated they aren't very likely to lay, I would think.
This is a good video about measuring your pullet's pelvic bones:

 

[Dcherie13]

MY husband heard them clucking quite a bit this morning so hopefully we are getting there

 

[Dcherie13]

That’s actually the video I watched to learn how to check their pubic bones