Do pullets smell like eggs before they lay?

[ProfGreyshade]

My son was playing with our hens yesterday and noticed that while most of them smell like their feed our leghorn smells like eggs. Since animals tend to smell like what's going on inside them my guess is this means she's getting ready to lay. Anyone else notice this? Whatever it means it inspired him to make a cute little video.

 

[LadyAndHerPeeps]

Loved the Video!
Quote:

 

[ProfGreyshade]

This is actually a serious question. I realize most folks don't sniff thier birds often but surely I'm not the the only parent with a chicken cuddling kid. Does the scent of a chicken change when they are getting ready to lay? Because my son is right, our white leghorn smell different from the flock now. She smells much more like eggs.

 

[Fritatta]

That child needs to do instructional videos! what a doll.

And this is a very interesting question - lets hear from the experts.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I have no idea if a chicken's odor changes when they are ready to lay, but I did enjoy the video

How old is the chicken in question?

 

[ProfGreyshade]

About four and half months. Her comb and wattles are alot redder and more prominate too.

 

[off-grid hen]

I feel terrible that I can't give you an answer, my hens are just 10 weeks old. I will keep my nose peeled when they get to laying age though!

 

[Saltysteele]

i would say, no.

did you smell it (the chicken) before, or did you just notice it yesterday (most don't sniff their chickens everyday, but some may)? it may have laid in some poo and had some on its feathers, or it may have just had one of those dark, greasy poo's.

anyway, the ingredients for making the eggs are always there. just like a human, a chick is born possessing all eggs it will ever produce, just at different stages of development. they don't just start accumulating the ingredients to make eggs, one day.

to me, anyway, eggs don't smell like anything, that i would even notice if one was sitting under my nose (fresh ones, anyway, and these would be the freshest of fresh)

i could be wrong, but my answer is "no"

my guess would be that she got into something

edited to say: i guess it is possible, however, that her hormones have started flowing. while i still don't believe it is eggs you are smelling, i would concede that you are smelling secretions due to her body preparing to lay eggs, or even like how a boar starts smelling of musk when it's testosterone is rising

 

[rosegal]

I haven't noticed chickens smelling like eggs. And I have a lot of them, but they do smell like cooked chicken when it gets hot. Takes my appetite away....