How to tell if hens are about to start laying?

[Eliz]

My 2 sex links are around 15 weeks now. Is there any certian behaviors to look for to indacate they are about to start laying?


One of my girls has been acting off a little. She has been laying in fluffly spots in the yard and not getting up for about a hour. She will even watch the others fight over bugs and not even move sometimes. Then some times the flock will be in one spot while she is one the other side of the yard by her self sitting. Then other times she's with her flock as normal.

Any clue as to why she could be acting a little crazy???

 

[chicken farmer meigs]

When my two golden sex link chickens combs turned bright red not a dull red that is when they started to lay.

 

[redoak]

My hens started to check out the nest boxes and started to squat about a week before they started laying eggs. They started laying between 18 and 24 weeks old. My hens kinda sit in one spot after they have dust bathed, and will stay in that spot for quite awhile.

 

[OHMYCHICKIES]

I'm not an expert but I think that's too young. I had a chicken do that, exactly what you are saying yours is doing and she had a problem with her crop. She didn't want to eat and just watch the others. She would just lay down for awhile and not get up. Mine had only white watery poop, no solids.

I would check her poop, make sure it's normal and that she's eating okay.

 

[Eliz]

Both of the sex links combs have turned very red.

I will check her poo again, but have not seen any that is runny so far.

She is eating just fine thou.

I am not sure their real age but going by what the feed store said they are 15 weeks.

What do you mean by squating?? I have heard that said before but I am not sure what that means.

 

[OHMYCHICKIES]

Mine are just about 18 weeks and just started squatting. What I see as squatting is when I go to pet them, they suddenly squat down and open their wings. Really weird.

 

[Eliz]

Well I don't think running and screaming qualifies as squating. So we are not there yet

Maybe soon.

I did add the nest box to the coop today so I hope every thing is going okay!

Thanks for your help guys!