First Egg Countdown

[Twinklin]

Total newbie here but what is this squatting y'all are talking about? Lol

When a pullet is close to laying age she will start to have the natural reaction of squatting when she is approached in order to let a rooster mount her. If you walk towards a pullet with your hand out and lean down towards her if she's getting close to point of lay she may squat down, it almost looks like the lay on their belly. A lot of people use it as a sign that their first egg is 1-3 weeks away.

 

[wlschwallenberg]

When a pullet is close to laying age she will start to have the natural reaction of squatting when she is approached in order to let a rooster mount her. If you walk towards a pullet with your hand out and lean down towards her if she's getting close to point of lay she may squat down, it almost looks like the lay on their belly. A lot of people use it as a sign that their first egg is 1-3 weeks away. 

Oh! Ours started laying a week ago and I guess I never paid much attention to them squatting but they do it. Pretty neat. Thanks!

 

[LadyCluck77]

Total newbie here but what is this squatting y'all are talking about? Lol

It's often called "The egg squat"
When a hen crouches and slightly puts out her wings, either because you have reached to pet her or just gotten close to her. This is mating behavior, because they would squat for the rooster once they are old enough for mating (and egg laying).

oops- I see I was late to the game on this one! Congrats on your eggs!

 

[3chickchicks]

I had miscalculated earlier and today my oldest are 21 weeks old. Still with pink faces and little waddles/combs. Ugh! Come awn!

Last night I had a dream that my buff brahma laid an egg and got mad that my dominique hadn't laid yet, lol!

 

[Sunnysimplelife]

Anyone have bantams? About what age do they start laying?

 

[lloydf]

After waiting 25 weeks and 4 days we have our first egg from our older Australorp Queen



Compared to a large white egg from the grocery store

 

[SixFizzle]

I got my first egg today! I found it when i got home from work. Unfortunately it was on the floor of the run so I put a grocery store egg in the nesting box this evening to give them a clue. I'm so excited!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats to both of you!

 

[Maggiesdad]

After waiting 25 weeks and 4 days we have our first egg from our older Australorp Queen



Compared to a large white egg from the grocery store

Very Nice!

They'll get bigger in the days to come.

 

[LadyCluck77]

Wonder if anyone has any ideas about age or point of lay for these two girls.
They are two started pullets I received from Murray McMurray in mid July. Supposedly they were 16-20 weeks then. I had my doubts... They were both in awful condition then, starved and nearly bald on their backs and tails. Now they are looking much healthier and have tails again.
Neither is laying yet, one is an EE and the other is a cuckoo marans.
Do they look close, or will it probably not happen until Spring? I have six other hens, so I don't mind a wait, just feeling very lost about their age.