(I'm certain the answer is in these threads somewhere, but the coffee hasn't turned my brain on yet, and I just can't find it)
I have a mixed flock (see Sig) with a bit of a difference in ages, too. For the past week+, maybe two,my girls have been exploring the nesting boxes (now even darker), digging around in them, and frequently pushing all the straw out of them. I had assumed it was some combination of scratching for food and nesting, as they have formed some comfortable looking "bowls" in the straw they pulled out of the nests.
I have three Golden Comets, which are entering their 17th week tomorrow. I had expected those to be the first to drop - no evidence of it yet - as they are famed early layers. My Rainbows are an *uncertain* "next to lay" in another weeks or so (based on internet claims), but being essentially Hoover Hatchery's Backyard mix, wide variation is expected in them.
So imagine my surprise when I walked into the house this AM, and found one of my very lazy CornishX girls standing in a pile of straw on the upper deck (More often than not, her ass is too lazy to go upstairs, unless she can't find food elsewhere). Anyhow, she seemed to be rythymically clutching and unclutching her ass end such that her feathers from the belly to tail were moving in a pulsing wave as she stood there!
I know most don't keep CornishX as breed stock (since they don't breed true), but I have no room in my freezer at present, and had no choice in the birds I started my flock with (COVID...) and they do have some useful traits from the parent stock (roll the dice, take my chances on my backyard mix)... Anyhow, she's about to enter her 21st week. I had the impression that they usually didn't start laying till later. Early surprise, or some other issue I should be investigating (my girl is 10#, and I force her to free range some with a partially restricted diet - she walks fine, fast waddles as a "run", and otherwise seems happy and healthy).
TMI? I'm sorry, don't know what info is most relevant. Anyhow, TY to any with the experience to answer, and I'll lift cup of good coffee to you and your insights.
I have a mixed flock (see Sig) with a bit of a difference in ages, too. For the past week+, maybe two,my girls have been exploring the nesting boxes (now even darker), digging around in them, and frequently pushing all the straw out of them. I had assumed it was some combination of scratching for food and nesting, as they have formed some comfortable looking "bowls" in the straw they pulled out of the nests.
I have three Golden Comets, which are entering their 17th week tomorrow. I had expected those to be the first to drop - no evidence of it yet - as they are famed early layers. My Rainbows are an *uncertain* "next to lay" in another weeks or so (based on internet claims), but being essentially Hoover Hatchery's Backyard mix, wide variation is expected in them.
So imagine my surprise when I walked into the house this AM, and found one of my very lazy CornishX girls standing in a pile of straw on the upper deck (More often than not, her ass is too lazy to go upstairs, unless she can't find food elsewhere). Anyhow, she seemed to be rythymically clutching and unclutching her ass end such that her feathers from the belly to tail were moving in a pulsing wave as she stood there!
I know most don't keep CornishX as breed stock (since they don't breed true), but I have no room in my freezer at present, and had no choice in the birds I started my flock with (COVID...) and they do have some useful traits from the parent stock (roll the dice, take my chances on my backyard mix)... Anyhow, she's about to enter her 21st week. I had the impression that they usually didn't start laying till later. Early surprise, or some other issue I should be investigating (my girl is 10#, and I force her to free range some with a partially restricted diet - she walks fine, fast waddles as a "run", and otherwise seems happy and healthy).
TMI? I'm sorry, don't know what info is most relevant. Anyhow, TY to any with the experience to answer, and I'll lift cup of good coffee to you and your insights.
