Laying signs...I'm trying to be patient!

[TheAmundsons]

Hi! So I've been reading many other's posts about sign for when a hen may start laying. One common sign is squatting. Our chickens aren't quite used to us (I know, we need to spend more time with them!), so would this still work for us? Would they squat instead of running away when we try to pet them? What are some other signs we could look for? They are 18 weeks now, so I know it could be any time! We've noticed only one of them is scratching around in the nest boxes. We have a few fake eggs in some of the boxes, but we've only seen that one be interested in the boxes. We have 9 ladies and a roo (along with 2 ducks!). I know they'll start laying on their own time, but it's so hard to be patient when I'm excited to get fresh eggs!

 

[BurdZi11a]

Our hens are about 3 months old and we are anxious to see a first egg as well. Ive looked at other posts and apparently there is an “Egg Song” practice before they start laying their first egg. Totally serious lol. Apparently they continue the same song everyday before and after they lay an egg... That’s what I’ve read on here! We live in a quiet neighborhood not zoned for chickens, so we are a little worried about possibly hearing an Egg Song every morning . If our 4 hens are all doing Egg Songs every morning, this is probably NOT going to work out lol.. anyway, that’s what I’ve read on here. Hope that helps

 

[TheAmundsons]

Our hens are about 3 months old and we are anxious to see a first egg as well. Ive looked at other posts and apparently there is an “Egg Song” practice before they start laying their first egg. Totally serious lol. Apparently they continue the same song everyday before and after they lay an egg... That’s what I’ve read on here! We live in a quiet neighborhood not zoned for chickens, so we are a little worried about possibly hearing an Egg Song every morning . If our 4 hens are all doing Egg Songs every morning, this is probably NOT going to work out lol.. anyway, that’s what I’ve read on here. Hope that helps

Yes! I read that too. I need to youtube what that sounds like...we have one that has become much more vocal, but I'm not sure if it's the egg song or not!

 

[BurdZi11a]

Oh my goodness, just looked up the “Egg Song” on YouTube.

This could definitely be a problem in our residential neighborhood! Lol. I doubt there’s a way to “sound proof” our coup! Considering we have to keep the windows/vents for them.. This is going to be interesting to see what the noise level turns out to be.

 

[Mosey2003]

They will squat for you most likely, yes. Their combs and faces will turn bright red, then they'll start squatting, and then within a week or two will lay.

I've never noticed egg songs much before laying an egg, but definitely after. And if one sings, others will usually join in, it's much louder and more annoying than a rooster, so if you have close neighbors....I might worry lol.

 

[DaphneNL]

My ladies start spending more time in their coop the days before they start laying. Like they're already checking out where to best lay their eggs once they're ready.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Hi! So I've been reading many other's posts about sign for when a hen may start laying. One common sign is squatting. Our chickens aren't quite used to us (I know, we need to spend more time with them!), so would this still work for us? Would they squat instead of running away when we try to pet them? What are some other signs we could look for? They are 18 weeks now, so I know it could be any time! We've noticed only one of them is scratching around in the nest boxes. We have a few fake eggs in some of the boxes, but we've only seen that one be interested in the boxes. We have 9 ladies and a roo (along with 2 ducks!). I know they'll start laying on their own time, but it's so hard to be patient when I'm excited to get fresh eggs!

I's very hard to wait! But, wait you must! They will start exploring the nests, throwing the materials out and/or around. They may or may not sing the "egg song" and will lay eggs when they are good and ready! They really care not what anxiety you are going through! Once they start laying the hens get friendlier. I did not "hand" raise my hens but now that they are laying and fully aware that I am the treat giver, some of them will let me pick them up and carry them! The best is yet to come!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

My least friendly chicken, who was the one thay stayed away from us, started getting friendlier about two weeks before she laid her first egg (at 18 weeks). She also squatted when I came up on her and touched her back. My other skittish chicken, who doesn't like to be touched has recently started being friendlier and squatting, so I think she is close to laying (now 21 weeks)

 

[TheAmundsons]

This is all very helpful! It’s good to know they’ll become more friendly once they get closer to laying. We’ve been trying to be around them a lot more lately, and they’ve started to eat out of our hands so that was a big step! We leave in 3 weeks for a week of vacation, so I’ll be upset if they start laying while our friends are watching them! I’m sure that’s when it’ll happen because that’s just the kind of personalities they have

 

[heidibee]

My four are around 20 weeks now. I have just one that started laying on Friday the 6th.

Mine are not used to us, and run when I approach them, so the squatting trick didn't work for mine. They also haven't done an egg song (that I've caught), so those typical signs weren't true for me.

The clue that was true for mine was that their comb and wattles became more and more red and more full or swollen looking.

We've found 3 brown eggs since Friday! Waiting on the other ladies to start now.