Is My Australorp Being Sneaky or I Am I Just Overly Anxious? How Do I Know When She Actually is Laying?

[GApeachmama]

Here’s Nubia. She is glorious and my absolute favorite. She’s a bold girl. I like my ladies bold.



Nubia will be 21 weeks on next Monday. McMurray’s info says she could have laid as early as 18 weeks. She’s very food driven. Her comb is the reddest of the flock and she has the earliest potential lay date. Somebody is gobbling up my oyster shell. I’ve seen her eating it and no one else seems close to laying. She doesn’t squat in front of me but squats all the way to the ground when I pet her. Which is lower that previously. I’m surprised she squats at all because she gives strong, “I squat for no one,” vibes. She’s really talkative now. She’s more calm. She actually came close to my face while I was working with power tools in the yard. Big change from a few weeks ago. I would actually describe her as bold now.

Could she be hiding eggs? It’s hard to know if she’s going to the nesting box because my 14 weeks old EE won’t stay out of there. How will I know if she’s actually laying? I there’s quite a few places to hide in my yard and I’ve checked most faithfully. I have noticed that her comb will be a slightly paler red sometimes of the day.

 

[GApeachmama]

Someone please chime in

 

[GApeachmama]

So I just realized I did a similar post on Sunday. Sigh. But because I’m shameless feel free to chime in. Any time. Any time at all.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

She should be close! I personally don't pay too much mind of the estimated laying dates. If they free range unsupervised then there is a chance she could be laying around the yard. I would put fake eggs or rocks that look like eggs in the nesting boxes to encourage them to lay there.

 

[GApeachmama]

She should be close! I personally don't pay too much mind of the estimated laying dates. If they free range unsupervised then there is a chance she could be laying around the yard. I would put fake eggs or rocks that look like eggs in the nesting boxes to encourage them to lay there.

Thank you! I’ve been looking all over the yard. I’m going to chill out and just feed her the treats she demands.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thank you! I’ve been looking all over the yard. I’m going to chill out and just feed her the treats she demands.

Does she visit the nest boxes, acting curious, playing house? Do you have fake eggs/ golf balls in the nest boxes?

Mine have never squatted just because I’m there; only when I (pretend to) pet them.

She’s plenty red, and with the squatting behavior that you’re seeing, I’d guess any day now, if not already.

If you have a lockable run, and you’re pretty much convinced that she’s laying, I’d consider keeping her locked in, at least during the mornings*, to see if anything is happening.

*hens and pullets can lay any time of day, because that is how they fulfill their mission of making us crazy. But if she’s currently laying, and it’s in the morning, this is how you’d find out.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

…I’m going to chill out and just feed her the treats she demands.

I see that you have already learned your servant role in chickening!

 

[GApeachmama]

Does she visit the nest boxes, acting curious, playing house? Do you have fake eggs/ golf balls in the nest boxes?

Mine have never squatted just because I’m there; only when I (pretend to) pet them.

She’s plenty red, and with the squatting behavior that you’re seeing, I’d guess any day now, if not already.

If you have a lockable run, and you’re pretty much convinced that she’s laying, I’d consider keeping her locked in, at least during the mornings*, to see if anything is happening.

*hens and pullets can lay any time of day, because that is how they fulfill their mission of making us crazy. But if she’s currently laying, and it’s in the morning, this is how you’d find out.

I’ll leave them put up tomorrow. There may be a riot. If you don’t hear from me, it’s been lovely.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes, the hatcheries give you a nice early lay date... "May lay as early as 16 to 20 weeks" .... why? So you'll buy their chickens, of course! It's marketing. They may have had one hen, once, lay at 16 weeks, so they didn't lie, right? But odds are it won't be YOUR hen that lays that early! So best advice I can give you is, chill. She will lay when she lays. When you least expect it. When you forgettaboutit! When you decide the only reason you even have chickens is bug control. And eye candy. Eggs? Who needs - wait! What's that in the nest?
IT'S AN EEEEGGGGG!