First Egg Countdown

[3b blu]

Im

praying for you. My first 2 layers never checked out the nest box and preferred to lay on the coop floor until I changed nest boxes but my other 2 checked the next box out exactly 1 day before I saw their first eggs! Good luck, I bet you'll definitely have an egg by tomorrow!

hoping so! Thank u for info suspense is killing me! There all about 26 weeks now... Spoiled rotten with everything possible they could get I just happened to pick the late layer breeds I guess?

 

[Renee572]

Im
hoping so! Thank u for info suspense is killing me! There all about 26 weeks now... Spoiled rotten with everything possible they could get I just happened to pick the late layer breeds I guess?

Oh I know, mine are spoiled to. They have me filling liter bottles with water and freezing them which I then take out to the yard about 11am for them to lay on and cool off on. Spoiled I tell you but once mine started laying they have run with it. I am getting 5 to 6 eggs a week from each including my EE who I expected to only give me 3 per week!

 

[Happy Chooks]

So I'm praying right now my little bantam hen is laying her first egg! She is in next box fluffing around and taking pieces of bedding in her mouth and situating! I'm hoping! Say a prayer! I just need to start collecting some sort of rent soon! lol even if it's not orps...

Quote: Pacing is a very good sign. Mine will pace and are very vocal on the day they first lay. Watch where you step, she may not make it back to the box before the egg comes.

This is our first Bantam egg that we got!

Congrats!

 

[FreeRangePamela]

Hello, fellow chicken keepers! First time raising chickens and our 8 girls, which we got at 1 day old, are now reaching POL. Well, at least ONE of them is ;-) Six of them (3 Barred Rocks, 3 Black Australorps) are 19.5 weeks, and one of the Barred Rocks is squatting, making a lot of noise, and has very red comb and wattles. She seems the closest to POL. Two are Easter Eggers, and they are 18.5 weeks old.

We have set up two nest boxes with straw and fake eggs, but I haven't gotten any sense of anyone checking them out yet. They free range during the day around our property, and they wander pretty extensively. They seem to love it and we haven't limited them all that much, but now I'm starting to wonder...

1. Should we keep them closer to the coop or in the coop for more of the day so they will lay in the nest boxes rather than anywhere else? Or will they more naturally be drawn to "home" and safety when they get the urge to lay? Should we be looking around for eggs in other places -- they roam probably over an acre or more, so I fear any eggs would truly be difficult to find.

2. Should I "show" them the nest boxes? They actually got into the bad habit of sleeping in the nest boxes, and we drove them out by putting big boxes in there until they started to sleep on roosts like "big girl" birds. Now we've opened up 2 of the 4 nest boxes in the coop (the others still have boxes) but I'm not sure if they are aware that these boxes are open and available for laying anytime they are ready!

3. How long after squatting and the other behaviors I've noticed should I start looking for eggs?

I'm sure I have other questions, but that's all I can remember right now. Your wisdom is much appreciated!

Best,
Pamela

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hello, fellow chicken keepers! First time raising chickens and our 8 girls, which we got at 1 day old, are now reaching POL. Well, at least ONE of them is ;-) Six of them (3 Barred Rocks, 3 Black Australorps) are 19.5 weeks, and one of the Barred Rocks is squatting, making a lot of noise, and has very red comb and wattles. She seems the closest to POL. Two are Easter Eggers, and they are 18.5 weeks old.

We have set up two nest boxes with straw and fake eggs, but I haven't gotten any sense of anyone checking them out yet. They free range during the day around our property, and they wander pretty extensively. They seem to love it and we haven't limited them all that much, but now I'm starting to wonder...

1. Should we keep them closer to the coop or in the coop for more of the day so they will lay in the nest boxes rather than anywhere else? Or will they more naturally be drawn to "home" and safety when they get the urge to lay? Should we be looking around for eggs in other places -- they roam probably over an acre or more, so I fear any eggs would truly be difficult to find.

2. Should I "show" them the nest boxes? They actually got into the bad habit of sleeping in the nest boxes, and we drove them out by putting big boxes in there until they started to sleep on roosts like "big girl" birds. Now we've opened up 2 of the 4 nest boxes in the coop (the others still have boxes) but I'm not sure if they are aware that these boxes are open and available for laying anytime they are ready!

3. How long after squatting and the other behaviors I've noticed should I start looking for eggs?

I'm sure I have other questions, but that's all I can remember right now. Your wisdom is much appreciated!

Best,
Pamela

1. If they are used to free ranging, then leave them be. If you change things now, it could delay them starting up. If they get older and you suspect them laying elsewhere, then you can lock them up to force them to lay in the coop.

2. They will discover them on their own. Sleeping in them (unless they are a broody) is not a good habit, unless you like poopy eggs. If they are used to roosting now, you should be good to open up all of the boxes.

3. Usually within a couple of weeks.

Your pullets are still pretty young. I wouldn't start worrying until around 24-ish weeks.

 

[FreeRangePamela]

Thanks, Happy Chooks! Patience, patience!! And we'll open up the other two nest boxes, too. The problem has been that we put "curtains" on the bottom two nest boxes (there are four -- two on top of each other), but there's nothing from which to hang the curtains for the top nest boxes. It's just the way our coop is set up. Need to figure that out. The curtains are just pieces of old sheets that we hope will provide a more cozy private atmosphere for the nest boxes, and also keep them out when they just want to sleep! So far, so good.... Hubby also made a higher roost for them, which has helped a lot.

We'll just keep an eye on them and I've absolutely been laid back, but seeing that one pullet getting red combed and making agitated noises has gotten me excited.

Speaking of which, as much as I want eggs -- and I really, really do -- I almost feel sorry for them going through chicken puberty. I mean, wasn't it such a confusing, hormonal time?

I can only imagine trying to adjust to the idea that one is supposed to lay an egg -- nearly daily! Oh, well, I got through it.. I'm sure our girls will, too.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Chickens like to roost in the highest possible area, so make sure their roosts are higher than the nesting boxes. It will help discourage them from sleeping in them. None of my nest boxes have curtains, so there is no worry if you can't figure out curtains for some. You may find that some like the curtains and others don't. Some of my hens like to lay in boxes with fake eggs, and some prefer an empty nest to lay in. They are all different animals.


Speaking of eggs in strange places today..........one of my BCM's that has only laid 4 or so eggs, laid one today under the auto waterer.

I just happened to see it covered in mud.

 

[3b blu]

Nothing

Pacing is a very good sign.  Mine will pace and are very vocal on the day they first lay.  Watch where you step, she may not make it back to the box before the egg comes.

Congrats!

nothing today maybe tomarrow! If I remember correct been a long time it is harder for first one when no one around already laying?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Nothing
Quote:

for tomorrow!

 

[alyssaplavigne]

YAY My BRs just started laying at 17.5 weeks!!!! So excited!!! Cant wait to hear the egg song!