New layer behavior

[Mamahen2104]

So we think our ancona layed her first egg earlier today! She's our only white egg chicken and there was a small white egg in front of their coop. She's been making a loud sound I've never heard her do before. She made a little nest spot and sat for a while and did what we thought was egg song when she got up. We went over and there wasnt an egg. Is this behavior normal for hours after their first egg?

 

[gimmie birdies]

New layers can lay in weird spots, people say the egg song, but sometimes the egg song happens after, but not on the nest, sometimes they may sing the song if someone is hogging a nest. ususally in the nest they are quiet, while they think about it. If you have a young hen who has not laid yet, she may be skiddish, but once she starts to lay she may squat for you, also when they start to lay surprisingly they may let you feel under their belly for an egg, or they may just panic and jump out of the nest.

 

[Mamahen2104]

We think she layed it hours ago and is just now doing the song. I think maybe she's confused about what's happening to her body?

 

[Ebony Rose]

I've had pullets start singing the egg song days in advance of the arrival of their first egg too. Keep an eye on her. Check her vent. Moist vent = laying Dry vent = not yet laying.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a young hen who laid for the first time once, and another hen ran up to her to congratulate her for laying her first egg.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Ha-ha- I have baby chicks and if they are constipated the sing a song, too.

 

[aart]

Is this behavior normal for hours after their first egg?

Yup.
They act pretty crazy.....squawking(not just right when they lay), pacing, running around.

New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying, spreading the bedding everywhere. They will scratch around a bit less in nest as they get used to the routine. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.