Process of first egg Layings.

[Lchristian]

Hi. I have my first flock of chicken. 4 RIRs, all hens. I started with 6 that I bought from a farm supply store. One died the next day from pasting. I had another one that had come home with pasting but cleared it up and got him healthy. Then at about 3.5 months old he just randomly died. I'm not exactly sure what happened. But he was my only rooster, and now I'm down to my 4 girls. Anyways. They are about 20-21 weeks old now and I'm just wondering what are the stages that they go through before laying. I know that I should be looking for squatting, red combs and the egg song. But what comes first? I went out to feed them earlier and I had two hens laying on the ground with their mouths open. When I approached them, they didn't squat, but didn't freak out and run away either. The 2 that were laying down have redder combs but they don't look bigger. And I haven't heard an egg song. I'm not expecting eggs for another month or so, but I want to know what is usually the first sign and what comes next

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! If your hens are laying on the ground, panting, something is wrong. They may be overheated. What is the weather like by you, is it hot?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yes, something may be wrong. Tell us more about them. You should hang some water jugs in the coop with a fan blowing on them, this will cool everything off.

As for the signs of egg laying they don't come in an order. Just once these happen the eggs aren't far behind!!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

X3...laying there with beaks open and panting is not good. If they are over heating, get a fan on them, ice in the water, feed them cool treats and if they are really bad off, get them inside the house in some AC for a couple hours.

When they do the squat, the eggs should be coming down the pipes soon. Good luck with your flock and welcome to ours!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X4, be sure your girls aren't overheating and have enough shade/water. Could they have been sunbathing or dust bathing? Sometimes they will just lay there and won't run away if they are doing that. With mine and laying, it seems that usually you notice their combs/wattles turning red before they start squatting, you generally won't hear an egg song until they are actually laying.

 

[Lchristian]

Thank you all for the advice. I think they were just thirsty. Their water troth got a hole in it somehow and it was dry. But I think one of hens is "nesting"!!!!! And she's been making an awful lot of noise today. I'm so anxious. Lol. And it's not terribly hot here. I live in western ky and we've been having decent weather.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you discovered the problem. Good luck in getting those eggs soon.

 

[drumstick diva]

They need water, like humans they can go longer without food than they can without water. Maybe they need two waterers so they always have some available.

 

[gander007]

 

[Frindizzle]

Hello and….

from Washington! BYC is the best fowl website you can find.

I hope you feel glad you signed up! In our flock we have great people and it is always great to have a new member In our flock, we have no pecking order!

By the way, not saying that you will do anything bad, but no fowl play

You have plenty of good info, I think you are covered

Good Luck!