Does she look close to laying?

[junior67]

My buff Cochin looks to me like she may be close to laying but she is only 23 weeks.... Most of these pics she was only 20 weeks. The last 2 pics are from 22 weeks.

 

[Hannahnic14]

She's does look close! Another way to tell is to look at her vent. If it's small and dry she isn't ready yet, if it's large and moist then she will be laying soon! (I know it sounds gross, but is anything really gross to chicken people??)

 

[junior67]

She's does look close! Another way to tell is to look at her vent. If it's small and dry she isn't ready yet, if it's large and moist then she will be laying soon! (I know it sounds gross, but is anything really gross to chicken people??)

With her huge fluffy butt it is so hard to check her vent! Plus she isn't thrilled when I pick her up so makes it even harder. I may have to have my daughter help me and hold her so I can check. She shocks me since her "sisters", my other 2 cochins still barely have any comb and wattles and they most definitely aren't red or even pink at this point. Thinking she will lay VERY early for her breed since I have read they don't lay till around 8-9 mo and she just turned 5 mo on the 9th.

 

[aart]

She looks pretty red.
Check pelvic points too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[junior67]

She looks pretty red.
Check pelvic points too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

I need to. She is sometimes ok with me petting her but runs if I go to pick her up. My 2 that are laying are the same and don't really squat when I pet them. But heard if you have a roo sometimes they don't squat for you. And I do...

 

[aart]

but runs if I go to pick her up.

I do exams off the roost after dark, I wear a headlight, they are much easier to 'catch' then

 

[Sally PB]

I do exams off the roost after dark, I wear a headlight, they are much easier to 'catch' then

This works really well! I have a red light on my headlamp, and the chickens can't see well enough to try to jump down.

 

[junior67]

I do exams off the roost after dark, I wear a headlight, they are much easier to 'catch' then

well now that would just make too much sense! haaahaaa! I have a theory with mine so may see if she lays this weekend and if not then check her tomorrow night and see if she seems close that way. Her comb and wattles have been quite red for about 3-4 weeks now (as you can see by the pics). And she started roosting 13 days ago........ My 2 laying started roosting between 12-14 days before they started to lay.... could be coincidence but maybe mine are strange and don't start to roost until a couple weeks before they start to lay. LOL

 

[junior67]

well no eggs this weekend so tried to check the bone separation today. She let me hold her no problem, BUT I am an idiot I think because with all her butt fluff I couldn't find them! I couldn't even find her vent. LMAO! She has the FLUFFIEST butt and the feather are so freaking thick. She did good with me holding her and looking but seemed to be getting a little upset about it so I just let her go after trying 2 different times. haahaa. I will try at night and see if I can figure it out. But I must say I am feeling like a complete idiot at this point. haahaa!

 

[aart]

well no eggs this weekend so tried to check the bone separation today. She let me hold her no problem, BUT I am an idiot I think because with all her butt fluff I couldn't find them! I couldn't even find her vent. LMAO! She has the FLUFFIEST butt and the feather are so freaking thick. She did good with me holding her and looking but seemed to be getting a little upset about it so I just let her go after trying 2 different times. haahaa. I will try at night and see if I can figure it out. But I must say I am feeling like a complete idiot at this point. haahaa!

It can be hard to find, no doubt.
Keep trying.