Our chickens are 20 weeks and 18 weeks. We've not seen one egg yet, and I am getting anxious.

[SASnCoBYC]

I was going to post almost the exact same question this evening. I have 10 pullets approaching the 19 week mark. 4 are brahmas, so not expecting anything from them yet, but I have 3 barred rocks and 3 cinnamon queens that I'm anxious to see some productivity from soon. We were allowing them to free range from about 10 am to dusk, but this week decided we are going to keep them in there run until mid evening. They tend to wonder into the neighbors yards while free ranging, and I don't want them leaving eggs where they may not be found. Their run is a 25ft x 50ft enclosure with good grass and forage plus scratch and crumble feed. I just really want the first egg to arrive this month while I'm still working remotely from home so I get to hear that first egg song. I have to go back to working on site at the beginning of August.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I was going to post almost the exact same question this evening. I have 10 pullets approaching the 19 week mark. 4 are brahmas, so not expecting anything from them yet, but I have 3 barred rocks and 3 cinnamon queens that I'm anxious to see some productivity from soon. We were allowing them to free range from about 10 am to dusk, but this week decided we are going to keep them in there run until mid evening. They tend to wonder into the neighbors yards while free ranging, and I don't want them leaving eggs where they may not be found. Their run is a 25ft x 50ft enclosure with good grass and forage plus scratch and crumble feed. I just really want the first egg to arrive this month while I'm still working remotely from home so I get to hear that first egg song. I have to go back to working on site at the beginning of August.

My understanding (I've not owned them) is the a C Queens are like my Rainbows, and favor the early half of the 20-28 week split. Barred Rocks, same rough time period. My Dark Brahma were a full seven months. I think the first egg was week 29 and it took a while for the rest of them to ramp up.

 

[Ascholten]

and before that, there better than even chances they will run in front of you, then squat.

HATED that, tripping all over the poor girls all the time, carrying 5 gallon buckets of feed, trying to navigate an obstacle course of sprint and squat poultry!

That won't stop, and yes it is annoying, trying to move the coop and they want to squat down between you and this 150 Lb coop you are dragging across the lawn.

BUT, if you reach down and grab them behind the neck, kind of like tickle them with your hands / fingers, and run down their sides, get up under their wings and like grab their body's running your fingers like a massage working your way back and when you get to the tail just kind of grab it by the sides sort of, working your hands up until you get to the very end, then give them a little tug, they LOVE it and will ruffle and fluffle right up. Of course you gotta be saying chickie chickie chikie POOHHHHhhh while doing it too. This can also temporarily make them stop following you around getting literally right under your feet!

Aaron

 

[rosemarythyme]

BUT, if you reach down and grab them behind the neck, kind of like tickle them with your hands / fingers, and run down their sides, get up under their wings and like grab their body's running your fingers like a massage working your way back and when you get to the tail just kind of grab it by the sides sort of, working your hands up until you get to the very end, then give them a little tug, they LOVE it and will ruffle and fluffle right up. Of course you gotta be saying chickie chickie chikie POOHHHHhhh while doing it too. This can also temporarily make them stop following you around getting literally right under your feet!

Aaron

That also encourages them to continue to squat for your "attention" whenever they see you. (I actually encourage the squat, annoying as it can be, as it makes them much much easier to catch - well, the ones that will squat reliably at least).

 

[Ascholten]

That is very true, the skittish ones are going to be that way no matter what, but seeing the other girls get the attention can make them a bit less skittish. I also feel it makes them happier too, they seem a bit perkier after and well, why not keep your pets happy, within limits of course.

Aaron

 

[3KillerBs]

HATED that, tripping all over the poor girls all the time, carrying 5 gallon buckets of feed, trying to navigate an obstacle course of sprint and squat poultry!

Did you find that this tapered off once you had roosters in the flock?

Between the run clutter, the Ladies squatting, and the babies clustering around me looking for wet mash I can barely walk in my run.

 

[SiDaStuff]

It's fine.
Chicken's start laying from 22-24 weeks old

 

[Ascholten]

Good question, I do wonder if it's more a gesture of just friendship or a wanting, which a rooster is giving plenty attention, wanted or not.
Aaron

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Did you find that this tapered off once you had roosters in the flock?

Between the run clutter, the Ladies squatting, and the babies clustering around me looking for wet mash I can barely walk in my run.

It tapered off, but I can't say why. Hadn't given it any thought. But a definite "maybe"