Pullets have been squatting for a month, but no eggs. What's the deal?

[kllyjansen]

A couple of my 5+ month old pullets (1 Cream Legbar, 1 Barred Rock) started doing the submissive squat a bit over a month ago, but I haven't had any eggs. How long does it typically take from they time they start squatting to first egg? They are somewhat free range as they have free access to our small backyard and I'm worried they have a stash hidden somewhere or that something is eating the eggs! I can barely walk past the barred rock without her dropping into an automatic squat. Their pelvic bones have widened and I noticed some rearranging activity in the nesting box this past week, but still no eggs!

What's the deal?

 

[sourland]

I'd search the yard carefully for a hidden nest. Most hens lay early in the day. Try locking them in the coop until the afternoon. If they haven't laid, watch where they go once you turn them loose into the yard.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Young hens become very vocal before their first egg, mine will talk loudly to me every time I pass them, then within a week or two they start to lay, they also start checking out the nest boxes, make sure you have fake eggs in them, it helps them to know where it's safe to lay, and their attitudes change, more adult like, don't be in such a hurry, laying too early isn't always good for them, and some chickens can take up to a year to start, I would think the breeds you have would start up in the next month or so, the squatting for you is more of a submission thing, but it is also a sign of wanting to mate, I sometimes will put my hand on their backs and shake it around, silly birds think I actually did something to them and will get up and shake off then go about their business

 

[kllyjansen]

My girls are super super chatty all the time but there has been a lot of shouting in the morning. I've assumed that they were shouting at me to wake up and giving them their morning treat!

 

[kllyjansen]

I put a fake egg in the nesting box yesterday and caught my barred rock girl sitting in it this morning even though the other gals were out in the yard. I was just taking a peek for an egg before heading out for work and was surprised to see her in there. I hope I didn't disturb her and keep her from doing her business! Hubby said there wasn't an egg as of his leaving about an hour after I did and that she was back out in the yard.

 

[lazy gardener]

Soon, very soon!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, squatting is a submission thing. During the act of mating the one on bottom is submitting to the one on top. I’ve seen a 13 week old pullet squat for a 13 week old cockerel and she did not start to lay for another two months. Still, squatting is a good sign that they are maturing and could be getting close to point of lay.

Often about a week before they start to lay a pullet starts looking for a good nesting site. Not always but often. Most, but not all. Some pullets seem to not understand what is happening and may drop their first eggs wherever they happen to be, the roosts or just walking around. But most get it right from the start. These are the ones you see scratching around in the nests checking them out. Activity in the nests is a good sign.

A really big reason people think their chickens are not laying is that they are hiding a nest. That happens a lot and not just with pullets starting to lay. Sour’s idea of locking them in the coop or coop and run is a good idea. If you start getting eggs you know they are laying. You may not know if they are hiding a nest or if something is eating the eggs and you locked them out but at least you’ll know they are laying.

There are different signs and indications that they are laying or about to start, but these are just clues. They are not really absolute facts. It can be frustrating.

 

[kllyjansen]

Well I guess all I needed to do was get exasperated enough to post! My Barred Rock hen, Fritatta, laid this little beauty for me while I was at work The black egg is a decoy... seems to have guided her right where she needed to go.





And the lovely lady in front has the distinct honor of giving us our first egg!!!



Yay!!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Finally, congratulations

 

[kllyjansen]

Thank you!!!