How do i

[amyt21]

How do I kno when my hen will lay her first egg I'm not sure her age but she has to be a lil over 6months she is much bigger then my other 2 who are 4 1/2 months.. She is a black sex link I believe. Do I put a fake egg somewhere.. !? Do I get a special place for her to lay?? Help!! This will be my very first egg ever when she lays

 

[chicklover 1998]

being as we are still in winter she may not lay until closer to spring, her comb/wattles look nice and red but don't look that big yet could be tomorrow could be two months she will do it when she feels like it, haha, chickens are finicky when they start laying my ameraucana didn't start until she was 7 mo. old one of my RIR started at 23 wks. and 3 days and another waited until 26 wks. they do it when they are ready.

 

[bernie2703]

If you can,can you get a more focused picture.you will know when she is going to lay her first egg she will start to make a lot of noise.also you don't have to put a fake egg but you can if you want to.and also build her a nesting box for her to lay her first egg.

 

[amyt21]

 

[amyt21]

Thanks for the quick responses. I'm in Florida so it doesn't get that cold here but we do have some colder weeks if that makes any difference

 

[donrae]

Looks like she could be laying literally any day. Have you checked everywhere in the yard for a hidden nest? Or tried confining her for a few days to see if she's already laying? New layers don't necessarily know they're "supposed" to lay in that nice box you made.

 

[amyt21]

When I say I'm new I'm very new.. I didn't kno I had to separate her should I leave her in the coop today while the others roam in my yard?

 

[aart]

New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying, spreading the bedding everywhere. They will scratch around a bit less in nest as they get used to the routine. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

2 bony points(pelvic bones) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.