First Egg Countdown

[mrsteiner]

I would love to see a video (with sound) of a chicken singing "the egg song". My girls have gotten louder the last few days--particularly the only one that has started laying. But I certainly wouldn't call it a song. (It's kind of obnoxious)

Anyone video their hens doing this?

 

[CarolJ]

Look on youtube - they have videos of the egg song.

 

[real_redhead]

Got our first egg today from our EE that we just got, think she is about 5 months old. Waiting for our other girls to start laying!!! I know 1 is a red sex link and the other 3 have no idea, TSC told me they were less than a week old when we got them May 2 but the lady who works there (who took my roo) said they are older than what I thought. She came to pick up Cheese the rooster and said they should be laying soon based on how they look!! I was worried that Millie the EE wouldn't lay for a while since she hasn't gotten totally adjusted to the other girls or should I say they haven't gotten adjusted to her!! I am so excited that we got our first egg!!!!

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
Hi and welcome to BYC, it's a great place to learn and chat!

I'll try to answer some of your questions, but other more experienced people will probably add more. If you still have questions please be sure to ask again.
When they're almost ready to lay you'll see them do some major squatting and put their "elbows" out. It usually happens when you reach for them or move your foot in their direction. It's very different from their usual squat! They might also start practicing in the nest box, moving the bedding around, sizing it up. Mine did that for about 2 days before the first egg. The comb and waddles were red for at least 2 weeks before that (Black Australorp).

I would suggest you put a perch in the coop that's a few inches higher than their nest boxes and maybe even go in after dark and set them up on it as encouragement to use it. I prefer them not sleeping (and pooping) in the nest box. Is it possible to take the nest box(es) out for a few days? It might help break the habit.

I hope that helps a little bit. Enjoy!

 

[CarolynF]

Question...
My Black Australorp, Pearl has layed a sweet little brown egg 3 days in a row. Today she's been going in & out, in & out, in & out of the coop for the pat 3 hours. You can hear her scratching the bottom of the nest box like crazy. I swear she's going to wear it out before dinner time at this rate! Lots of clucking, too, but still no egg. Is this normal, what's the story????

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Quote:
Yes, this is completely normal and usually the entire flock acts strange and cranky as well. We call it PES at our house (pre-egg syndrome).

 

[effie]

I went to check for my solo egg from my older hen yesterday and found one of the nests all messed up-she had put all the wood shavings in a pile on one side. I had put fake wooden eggs in the nests this week --hoping-

and this morning my husband brings in an egg that he got when he let them out-though he did say there was a barred rock hanging out that didn't go out-later he saw my older hen sitting so I went down to investigate and sure enough found a warm egg from hennypenny---sooooooooo-the egg he brought in this morning is my first egg from the barred rock. I thought she was ready as her comb and wattles were all red and developed. Not bad for her first egg-great size-hers is a little rounder than Hennypenny-the barred rocks is on the right. woohooo!!!!

they will be 20 weeks Monday.

 

[CarolynF]

N&MSchroeder :

Quote:
Yes, this is completely normal and usually the entire flock acts strange and cranky as well. We call it PES at our house (pre-egg syndrome).

Well that's good to know! A few minutes ago we heard some really loud cackling, several, even inside the house! Now I know what the egg song sounds like for sure!

When we went up to see what all the ruckus was about, Pearl came tumbling out of the coop and inside was her biggest little egg yet.

And all the straw was packed solidly against the sides of the nest box with the egg laying on the bare floor. Guess it must have tickled her toosh.

A few minutes later she gave us an encore performance of her song. What a hoot. Our other laying hen, the EE, doesn't announce her deliveries much at all, so this was new and very entertaining! Gee I'm glad we got chickens!

 

[tbonekel]

I have a chicken that will squat for me when I get near her. Been doing it for a couple of days. I assume she is very close. These chickens have been free ranging and I'm afraid she may lay her first egg and I won't know where it is. They have not shown any interest in the nesting boxes. It's been above 100 here for several weeks, so I know the coop is not the most comfortable place to be. Those of you with free rangers, do you just hope they lay in the nest? Should I have more faith in her to keep it close to home? Should I keep them in the run for a few days to see what happens? I don't know.

 

[Pele]

Congrats to the new egg parents!! Yay!

I'm so excited, my DH just texted me that Princess Prissy Pants has been going in and out of the nesting box! Wahooo!

She's been cackling like a witch for like 3 weeks now, and if her face got any redder, she'll be invited to lead Santa's Sleigh come Xmas time.

It should be a matter of days now. I feel like doing a victory lap!