Expecting eggs??

tds463

Hatching
5 Years
Aug 17, 2014
4
0
7
Hello Fellow BYC members,
Hubby and I are new chicken owners. We acquired 5 hens about 3 weeks ago. We were told that they would start laying eggs in about a month. We noticed that 2 of the hens have lost their "chickie chirp" and are "clucking". How long when they start clucking do they start laying eggs. We are growing impatient. We visit and check them everyday. To no avail. We have heard of people putting golf balls in nesting area to promote laying, does that work? We have a few balls in there. Thanks for your advice/input.
 
Hello Fellow BYC members,
Hubby and I are new chicken owners. We acquired 5 hens about 3 weeks ago. We were told that they would start laying eggs in about a month. We noticed that 2 of the hens have lost their "chickie chirp" and are "clucking". How long when they start clucking do they start laying eggs. We are growing impatient. We visit and check them everyday. To no avail. We have heard of people putting golf balls in nesting area to promote laying, does that work? We have a few balls in there. Thanks for your advice/input.

Hi and welcome!

The golf balls (or other nest bait) isn't meant to induce laying, but rather to direct where to lay once the pullet's body has matured and begun producing eggs. Were you told an approximate age when you acquired them? Depending on breed (and individual bird w/in the breed) you can see a pullet begin to lay anywhere from as early as 18 weeks or as late as 28 weeks or more. Do you know what breed your birds are?
It would be helpful to take and post photos of the birds you have - seeing the birds will allow for evaluation of some of the physical cues of impending laying.
 
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I stressed when my hens were going to start laying and I think they pick up on that so try and forget. The cluck isn't really related to when they are going to start laying I have 1 hen that has been laying for a while and still has a cheep. The main signs are squatting and their comes getting bigger and redder but not all hens have combs that get bigger when they start laying. They will start squatting when you pick them up when you first do that its not exact but within a week or 2 you probably can expect eggs like I said don't think about it they get stressed if you get stressed. Also look for hens hopping in and out of nesting boxes.
 
welcome-byc.gif
Glad you joined us.

Watch for signs of maturity…combs/wattles turn red, pullets do the squat - touch their back and they squat. Once you see this they are getting close.

The fake eggs or golf balls are meant to try to get them to lay in the nests you provide, but won't make them start laying.

You may or may not see many welcomes to our flock, post is under feedback, announcements instead of new member into forum.

There are a number of forums in BYC, please explore to see what you are interested in or where you need to post to get the most comments.
Use search and there are many threads on egg laying behavior. There's a lot of great info in the archives.

Again, welcome, hope your girls start to lay soon. It is so EGGCITING when they do!
 
Thank you Ol Grey Mare for the info. We thought the balls enticed the laying. I am not sure of their exact age or what kind they are. One is considered an "Easter Egg" kind. One is white and 3 are grey and black. The Easter Egg and white one are clucking, we think the grey/black ones are 2-3 weeks younger than the other 2. Have to do some more internet searching. The people we bought them from are very knowledgeable. I do have pics of them however, I am having difficulty posting as I have windows 8 and am not to computer savy with it..LOL.
Again, thank you so much for your help.
 
Thanks Sunflower,
We are super eggsited for eggs. It's like waiting for an expected baby..LOL
 
thanks bobthebunny, we noticed last night when we were sitting watching/talking with them, 2 went close to the boxes but only stuck one leg in, so maybe getting close. We are just excited to get that first egg.
 
I need help figuring this out. My hatchery birds an RIR pullet and 2 BR pullets have large reddish combs and wattles, and one of the BR's squatted the other day, but she won't do it gain. My other BR pullet has very little comb and wattle growth, and next to no comb and wattle coloring, which leads my to believe she will reach the POL last. The RIR has the largest and reddest comb and wattles, but she hasn't squatted yet. They are about 17.7 weeks. Who do you think will lay first, and when?
 
I need help figuring this out. My hatchery birds an RIR pullet and 2 BR pullets have large reddish combs and wattles, and one of the BR's squatted the other day, but she won't do it gain. My other BR pullet has very little comb and wattle growth, and next to no comb and wattle coloring, which leads my to believe she will reach the POL last. The RIR has the largest and reddest comb and wattles, but she hasn't squatted yet. They are about 17.7 weeks. Who do you think will lay first, and when?

I'm gonna guess the RIR will lay the first egg. I am sooo experienced my first flock of six hens. But, my first producer had the largest and reddest comb/wattles & hers has remained the largest ever since. Mine were all the same age and all started squatting when the time was near, but some did so longer than 2 weeks before POL. I have 2 who love to brood unfertilized eggs, when they brood, wattles/combs are pale. & remain pale after they give up the sit, and don't restart laying til they redden up again.

?? what about red around the eyes, I think that's a definite gonna lay sign.
 

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