Pre-laying behavior

[wohneli]

Are there noticeable behavioral changes before a pullet starts laying?
Do they often hide their eggs if they are free-range?
Thanks

 

[Mahonri]

If they are free range, they hide their eggs.

Pre-laying...

Squatting,

Red combs

more vocal

 

[mudderhen]

I don't know if they hide thier eggs if they free range, but I have a good idea that they probably do.
As for some of their behaviors,when they reach the point of lay which is the age they are ready to lay eggs, the comb will turn redder, they talk or "sing" more and if you have a roo, they will not try to mount them until they are ready to start laying. I don't know how they know unless they can smell something we can't, but I have watched many birds and the roos will kind of ignore them until they are ready to lay, then they are very interested and start "courting" or mating them

 

[Judy]

Well, my free rangers have always returned to the coop to lay. I have 4 hens. One is broody and setting on eggs. I got 3 eggs today. I got 2-4 all winter, depending on the broody.

Maybe I'm just lucky. They are locked in the coop at night but true free range all day. We have 11 acres with woods across the back. They seem to range over about 3-4 acres.

 

[millerwb]

Got my first egg today! One of my Bantams returned to the coop, mine roam the back yard all day, and got up in the nest box. She prepared her a spot, arranging the "hay" and stayed there until the job was done. Saw my roo working on another bantam when I was out there so I should get more in the next day or so.

 

[lisahaschickens]

I have to respectfully disagree with mudderhen.

One of my roos started courting and mounting my females at 10 weeks of age. It has been 7 weeks of that and not one egg yet. They will be 17 weeks tomorrow and one pullet is acting like she might be close, but not eggs. So, just because a rooster is courting and mounting does not mean eggs by any means.

 

[wohneli]

Great answers, thanks. I have been casually walking our backyard (.5 acres) and looking for eggs the last few days so I will continue to do so. They are 20 weeks Monday (6/8) so I am hoping I get some eggs soon.
My first egg(s) will also be my first try at posting pics - lol!