First egg!

[Rick M]

Hello and welcome to BYC, congrats on your first egg. Our first egg was laid while my daughter was holding one of our hens on the couch and out popped an egg into my daughters lap.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Lol congrats on the first egg!

 

[Charlie0928]

Four of them have nice combs and waddles and squat like crazy! Guess it could be any time now...

so these are all the signs before they're ready to lay?

 

[Pugsabi]

so these are all the signs before they're ready to lay?

Yes, first you'll start hearing them practicing their egg song. Which, unlike the cute name, sounds like someone is beating them with a stick. Then their faces and waddles start turning redder and redder as they grow bigger. They will also start squatting for you, which can't be confused for any other thing. They practically plaster themselves to the ground anytime you come up behind them unexpectedly. Usually within a week or two of them squatting, you get eggs.

 

[BGcoop]

Congrats on your first egg!!! I am partial to the pelvic bone width check to see how close they are to laying. My hubby thinks i’m crazy for constantly “touching the chicken’s butts”, however I have 4 to start laying yet and I have been able to tell who was going to be next to start laying using this method for the last 4.

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

Congrats on your first egg!!! I am partial to the pelvic bone width check to see how close they are to laying. My hubby thinks i’m crazy for constantly “touching the chicken’s butts”, however I have 4 to start laying yet and I have been able to tell who was going to be next to start laying using this method for the last 4.

I do this too. I have 2 laying for about 4 & 6 weeks and 1 , same age, who has red comb and wattles ( small though) and has been squatting for a month but her pelvic bones are still only about a centimeter apart. My other girls are still too young. Also the rooster only pays attention to the two who are laying. That might be a good sign to watch for as well.