How close is she?

[AshleyThom]

Yes, I know it will happen when it happens, but I’m so impatient! Our beautiful barred rock girl is 18 weeks and 2 days. Judging by her comb and wattles, how close do you estimate she is to laying? She’s skittish, so I can’t see if she’ll squat. Our rooster has also become very territorial. I’m not sure is that means anything.

 

[MysteryChicken]

She looks ready. Expect eggs in a couple weeks.

 

[aart]

Closer than she's ever been!

She may not squat for you anyway, grab her off the roost at night and check her pelvic bones spacing.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[AshleyThom]

Closer than she's ever been!

She may not squat for you anyway, grab her off the roost at night and check her pelvic bones spacing.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

I followed the illustration and she falls under the category of “laying”.

 

[aart]

I followed the illustration and she falls under the category of “laying”.

Both squatting and pelvic spread can happen a week or 3 before laying commences.
So she's close.
I know it's hard to wait, especially with your first layers.