Clues that they are ready to lay the first egg?

[Chick_a_dee]

I'm wondering too! Only about 5 or 6 of my 15 have reddened up in the face, the others are stragglers, still a bit light faced, small combs, etc. I think the majority of them might be a week younger or something lol

Those with the red faces have been making these horrible lower than normal sounding screeching noises and walking around, I find depressions in the shavings in three corners, dug out, and they're picking in the nests, standing outside, sometimes one will get half way in and pick around then jump out. The other night when one of them tried to roost on my light cable (LOL) and it went out, I went to plug it in and noticed two of them hunkering down together in the shavings by the roost.

I don't know if this means they're getting close, they're 19.5 weeks now, and I have noticed they're eating the grower a bit faster.

 

[digitS']

Sounds like you are about to see a few eggs, Chick_a_dee.

My last nonlayer had an egg for us yesterday - at 26 weeks! So, if your pullets start at 19.5 weeks, they've got her beat six ways from Sunday.

Steve

 

[cmom]

Mine started laying between 17 weeks and 27 weeks. Another BYCer posted on another thread that she just got her first egg at 31 weeks. The squatting is submissive behavior and it is a good indication that they are about to start laying. I put golf balls in my nest boxes. Some of my girls are rather loud when they lay and others are not. I have some that will stand on the roost out side the favorite nest box and sqawk as if to tell the one in the nest to hurry up so she can get in it.