Do you think they are close?

[Lessy21]

Waiting, waiting, not so patiently for our first ever egg!! Two of the four pullets have had really red combs and wattles for about a week or more. I noticed just today the leghorn's comb is starting to flop! Very excited.

 

[Wezdin]

I would look for a hidden nest, they seem like they have started.

 

[aart]

They all look pretty 'red'.
How old are they, in weeks?

Are your nests ready, with some fake eggs, any sign of them checking them out?
Messed up nests are the best sign I've seen the eggs are imminent.
But if you free range then.....

Might be time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then...
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[Lessy21]

I would look for a hidden nest, they seem like they have started.

They do "free range" but in my suburban backyard on the lawn only (garden beds are fenced off) so not sure there is place for a nest but I will look again today, Thanks!

 

[ColtHandorf]

I too would suspect they are laying somewhere other than the nest box. My silly Silver-laced Orpingtons will sometimes just drop an egg in the middle of the yard. lol Usually they are better about hiding them though.

 

[Lessy21]

They all look pretty 'red'.
How old are they, in weeks?

Are your nests ready, with some fake eggs, any sign of them checking them out?
Messed up nests are the best sign I've seen the eggs are imminent.
But if you free range then.....

Might be time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then...
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

They are 19 weeks today. The nests are ready with golf balls in them and I have noticed a lot of messing up of the nests happening. Im a stay at home mum living in the suburbs, I haven't heard any sort of egg song but I will try do a vent check, thanks for that!

 

[Lessy21]

We got our first egg today! At just over 20weeks, the first one to lay was the white leghorn. The whole family is very excited!!

 

[sealer39]

Congratulations! Many more to come!

 

[Wezdin]