Could this be a sign of soon to lay?

[tanyabee]

I have 4 hens ages 23 weeks-27ish weeks. None are laying. They are a chocolate orpington (I know she won't lay until later), Coronation Sussex, Easter egger, and fibro ee. The 2 ee have been very vocal lately, but of course I can't tell by the black comb on the fibro girl where she's at. But the odd thing is that today, in their run where we have a bale of straw for a couple of months now that they have very slowly picked at, they completely tore apart the bale and have been rummaging around in the straw like crazy. The bale is gone, lol. Are they doing some sort of nesting routine or something?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Pictures would help ... The ages are about right, are any squatting for you?

 

[tanyabee]

Pictures would help ... The ages are about right, are any squatting for you?

They are in a coop that has an enclosed run underneath, not free range (city rules), so we don't get a chance to handle them too much. I haven't seen any squatting though.

 

[aart]

they completely tore apart the bale and have been rummaging around in the straw like crazy. The bale is gone, lol. Are they doing some sort of nesting routine or something?

Yes indeed, 'nest messing' is one of the surest signs that laying is imminent, IME.

Put some of that straw in the nests along with some fake eggs.
Here some other tips on how to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[tanyabee]

Yes indeed, 'nest messing' is one of the surest signs that laying is imminent, IME.

Put some of that straw in the nests along with some fake eggs.
Here some other tips on how to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Yay! Thank you!