I think my light Sussex may be about to lay her first?

[beany_bot]

Hello. You may know me from a different thread. I'm new to hen keeping and have a Sussex and 2 BOs all about 24ish weeks old

1. I noticed my sussex's comb totally was really red today
2. She keeps going in and out the coop in and out almost a bit frantic.
3. She's making a kind of new noise
4. She is making a hole in the corner and scraping around.
5. She keeps looking at the egg boxes as if she knows she might want to be in there. (There are fake eggs in there) But none of the hens have ever taken any notice or been in there this far.

What do you think? Very I'm likely wrong as I have no experience but it just *feels like she's getting ready to lay very soon. Video below of some of that behavior.

 

[sourland]

Today may be the day

 

[rosemarythyme]

x2. Or "soon."

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Gorgeous bird. Fond of that coloring.

Probably similar to how my pullet acted last month.
She kept checking out the boxes, and picked her favorite one. Then frantically wanted the cockerel to escort her to lay her first egg, but he was more interested in eating, so she gave up and went by herself.

Have you noticed her getting in the boxes? My pullets didn't like their boxes (2.5ft off the floor?) Until I adjusted the access bar (not really a roost bar, but same idea. They can fly into the boxes, but they don't like to for laying eggs. They go to the access bar, then the nest.)

Have you had any hens use those boxes before? Perhaps she wants a little more privacy. The opening might feel too exposed. Even just adding a "curtain" or board to the top third might make her think "this is cozy enough". If you wanted to try that (not that you have to, she'll likely use the boxes soon anyway) you could change just 1 box and see if she prefers one over the other

 

[beany_bot]

Gorgeous bird. Fond of that coloring.

Probably similar to how my pullet acted last month.
She kept checking out the boxes, and picked her favorite one. Then frantically wanted the cockerel to escort her to lay her first egg, but he was more interested in eating, so she gave up and went by herself.

Have you noticed her getting in the boxes? My pullets didn't like their boxes (2.5ft off the floor?) Until I adjusted the access bar (not really a roost bar, but same idea. They can fly into the boxes, but they don't like to for laying eggs. They go to the access bar, then the nest.)

Have you had any hens use those boxes before? Perhaps she wants a little more privacy. The opening might feel too exposed. Even just adding a "curtain" or board to the top third might make her think "this is cozy enough". If you wanted to try that (not that you have to, she'll likely use the boxes soon anyway) you could change just 1 box and see if she prefers one over the other

Thanks for the input! She is lovely. Very very nice and intelligent personality. Lovely personable girl.

No these are my first ever hens so nobody has ever used (or been in) those boxes. I'll pop a wee curtain up. She looks in the left one much more than the right.

The nest boxes are 15inches above the woodchip floor, so not that high. I have an access bar in front, maybe you can help advise me if its positioning could be improved?

Im hesitant to put any more curtains on because then I wont be able to see if there is any eggs from the comfort of my chair using the camera

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

The nest boxes are 15inches above the woodchip floor, so not that high. I have an access bar in front, maybe you can help advise me if its positioning could be improved?

I see. I didn't notice there was already a bar there, my mistake.

That looks like a good sized curtain in my opinion. Good visual for you, ease of access for hens.
It's very possible it won't be necessary, but some hens do like to feel like they're in a little hidden area.

 

[beany_bot]

We have an egg! She has laid.

Quick question. Is it normal they make a LOT of noise if you take the egg??? What an absolute racket. Am I meant to leave it or something?

 

[rosemarythyme]

We have an egg! She has laid.

Quick question. Is it normal they make a LOT of noise if you take the egg??? What an absolute racket. Am I meant to leave it or something?

Congrats! Unless broody none of mine care if you take the egg (even from right under them) but they'll generally do the egg song at full volume right after.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Congratulations! What a nice first egg

With my pullets, I've been leaving the coop if I see any birds in the nesting boxes so I don't upset them. I haven't taken any eggs from under them.

If I go in the coop, some of them (in the boxes, or wanting to go in the boxes) do start clucking if they start getting upset about me being there.
If the nest boxes aren't occupied, I collect eggs and the birds in the run like to come in the coop and check out what I'm doing and chatter at me.

 

[beany_bot]

3 eggs in 3 days now from the little girl! Utterly delicious. Really creamy and flavourful