My four chickens are 24 weeks old and the first to lay (daily from last week) turned out to be the Rhode Island Red. I posted a photo as I wasn't sure if it was her or the Australorp - turns out to be the RIR as I finally found her laying the egg yesterday morning.
The Australorp and the Barnevelder both have combs and wattles becoming larger and redder and are squatting for me, though a little half-heartedly. Since the RIR has been laying they show more interest in what I'm doing in the coop when I clean it out each morning, coming up the ramp to check it out. This morning the Barnevelder spent at least 20 minutes in one of the nesting boxes - a little fluffed up, sitting on the dummy egg and making the same sort of cooing noise the RIR made when laying. I got all excited I might be in for another first egg - but nothing is there and she is now back out with the other girls. Was she just practising?!? I'm hoping she couldn't be going broody as she hasn't even laid yet!
Have others noticing them trying out the position before they first lay?
The Australorp and the Barnevelder both have combs and wattles becoming larger and redder and are squatting for me, though a little half-heartedly. Since the RIR has been laying they show more interest in what I'm doing in the coop when I clean it out each morning, coming up the ramp to check it out. This morning the Barnevelder spent at least 20 minutes in one of the nesting boxes - a little fluffed up, sitting on the dummy egg and making the same sort of cooing noise the RIR made when laying. I got all excited I might be in for another first egg - but nothing is there and she is now back out with the other girls. Was she just practising?!? I'm hoping she couldn't be going broody as she hasn't even laid yet!
Have others noticing them trying out the position before they first lay?
