Is my gorgeous little lady about to lay soon?

[GApeachmama]

My beautiful Australorp little lady Nubia is 15 was soon to be 16 weeks. From what I’ve read when a pullets comb gets red they are close laying. I’m worried that I have very little time and I need to fix my nesting box. Is it time to put out the oyster shell calcium?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I would put out the oyster shell but it still might take a few weeks. No harm getting the box and fake eggs ready.

 

[GApeachmama]

I would put out the oyster shell but it still might take a few weeks. No harm getting the box and fake eggs ready.

I’ve got the fake eggs. I’m going to unblock the nesting box and put down nesting pads probably this weekend or next week. I’m moving up my timeline on getting the nesting box fixed to by the end of the weekend.

 

[GApeachmama]

No eggs!!!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Be patient. May take up to 20 weeks or even more. Nothing you can do to hasten it. Except, possibly, give up in despair and just decide you have a defective chicken, lol. What's that saying about a watched pot that never boils?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Be patient. May take up to 20 weeks or even more. Nothing you can do to hasten it. Except, possibly, give up in despair and just decide you have a defective chicken, lol. What's that saying about a watched pot that never boils?

Agreed! 20 weeks would be very early for me, I don't think I've had any pullet go into lay that quickly.

Also assuming OP's "GA" = Georgia the state, we're well on our way to fall. The decreasing day length can further delay the onset of laying.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Agreed! 20 weeks would be very early for me, I don't think I've had any pullet go into lay that quickly.

Also assuming OP's "GA" = Georgia the state, we're well on our way to fall. The decreasing day length can further delay the onset of laying.

^^^ true dat! You could assist by adding a bit of extra light, either at the beginning or end of each day. It needn't be bright light, a night light will do. I've heard chickens need 14 hours of light to lay, but mine have done well with 12 hours total. I do not provide supplemental light as long as I have any that are molting, so with my older hens I do not add extra light until early spring, but since yours are pullets you might get away with supplementing this fall. Others might disagree, so weigh what they have to say.

 

[GApeachmama]

Update: She did it!!! She laid for the first time today.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Such a pretty girl!

 

[GApeachmama]

Agreed! 20 weeks would be very early for me, I don't think I've had any pullet go into lay that quickly.

Also assuming OP's "GA" = Georgia the state, we're well on our way to fall. The decreasing day length can further delay the onset of laying.

I’m stuck in MO. The things I do for love.