First Egg Countdown

[sanmar4chickens]

Finally joining this thread because I can't stand the anticipation! Our BO Bettina has mega-red wattles and comb and has been squatting since last week. Can't wait!

She's likely ahead of her Wyandotte and EE sisters. Twiddling thumbs over here.

Me too! Here I'am checking for dialating chickens, at 20 weeks and 2 cm pelvic bone spread. Egg song, red combs and waddles, squatted, curious of nest boxes. I'm pacing the waiting room floor. (4 red sex links)

 

[pinkrblu]

My girls are 18 weeks old... The egg-watch has officially started.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

Spent the day away from home, SURE that one of the girls would lay while we were away. Nope. Nothing.
Ah well... maybe tomorrow.

 

[LadyCluck77]

So my barred is making some funky noises but still nothing!! But everytine I go to touch her she sticks her shoulders out and puts her butt up

That's the egg squat
My RSLs all laid within 6-8 days of squatting for me.
Hopefully it will happen for you very, very soon

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

I keep hearing this singing but still no egg...

 

[meemnum1]

Another egg today. Same size but darker in color. Maybe someone else caught on?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I keep hearing this singing but still no egg...

Practicing their vocal skills.

Another egg today. Same size but darker in color. Maybe someone else caught on?

Color can change, but shape generally doesn't. So compare the shape. You might have 2 of them laying.

 

[3chickchicks]

So the first two are 19 weeks old. I'm not being impatient with the brahma. I know they mature more slowly. But shouldn't my dominique have waddles by now? She's been picking at the oyster shell I have set out.



Here's the brahma:



And then here's one of the 16 week old Wyandottes. Body size they're smaller but they have bigger waddles. WTH?

 

[LadyCluck77]

So the first two are 19 weeks old. I'm not being impatient with the brahma. I know they mature more slowly. But shouldn't my dominique have waddles by now? She's been picking at the oyster shell I have set out.



Here's the brahma:



And then here's one of the 16 week old Wyandottes. Body size they're smaller but they have bigger waddles. WTH?

Your first hen; I see she's a dominique? She has what looks like a dark pink face right now, watch for the really deep reddening. It can happen very quickly.
One of my RSLs went from quite pale to bright red almost overnight and then she laid the next day.

 

[3chickchicks]

Your first hen; is she a Barred Rock or a Silver Cuckoo Marans? She has what looks like a dark pink face right now, watch for the really deep reddening. It can happen very quickly.
One of my RSLs went from quite pale to bright red almost overnight and then she laid the next day.

She's a Dominique. Pictures of adults I've seen show them with nice combs and waddles but yeah, her face is a dark pink and has been for a couple of weeks. I'm just confused as to whether or not the comb and waddles come with age or if they suddenly appear before she lays. Do I look for a red face or do I wait for bigger comb and waddles?

I set up their nest with a golf ball inside about a week ago. Someone had checked it out the first day and scattered the shredded paper about, kind of like they were looking for bugs maybe. I cleaned up the excess and nobody has been back inside since.