Eggs soon?

[Danyander]

This is Charolette just over 17 weeks. Her comb and wattle are FULL! Should we be expecting eggs soon!?!?

 

[Alexandra33]

Absolutely! About a week before they start laying, you should notice them squatting submissively when you attempt to pet them. Our girls did this right before we got our first eggs, so I would expect your birds to begin soon.

-Alexandra33

 

[Danyander]

I took the boards down off the nesting boxes this weekend and put plastic eggs in each box. Anything else I should do for them? Do you think the boxes are private enough?

 

[Alexandra33]

I think your setup is superb as it is. They should be really happy with the space provided for them, and the boxes are definitely secluded enough to satisfy your girls. Believe me, that first egg is a VERY exciting event, and I am so thrilled for you to experience it.

-Alexandra33

 

[LeiaLayers5]

They do look ready by your picture. What types do you have? In the picture it looks like you might have a couple different ones.

 

[aart]

I'd put some boards 3-4" high on the fronts of the nests to keep the bedding and eggs inside......unless they are deeper than the 1 1/2" they appear to be
Filling the plastic eggs with sand will give them some heft which will also help them stay in the nest.

She sure does look ready!!

New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs. But it sure is fun!

 

[Danyander]

They are black sex link and barred rock. No eggs yet. And they won't won't lay in the heat wave we are getting here in Oregon. I am trying to keep them in their coop til after they start laying so they know where to lay and I don't have to egg hunt.