Question about egg laying signs for those with Black Australorps

[ash_en_em]

I have two BA pullets, and a roo who are two months old. One of my pullets recently started having her cheeks and comb turn reddish pink. I've heard this starts as they near egg laying age.

I was wondering what to look for from my girls as signs of being close to laying eggs?

Also my coop has a nest box area with dividers, and I haven't put the dividers in yet so they wouldn't mistake the nest area as a sleeping/poo-ing place. I thought it might be a good idea to wait to insert the dividers and put straw down until they're nearing egg laying.

Anything you guys have to offer would be awesome! I'm new to this and will take all the help I can get.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At 2 months, they aren't even close. It will be about 5 months or more before they start.
Combs and wattles do get larger and brighter red. They will start exploring the nest boxes.
Most importantly, the vent will be more moist and the space between the two pointy pelvic bones will expand to more than 2 fingers width. They can't pass an egg when it is tighter than that.

 

[SueT]

When they are close to laying they may squat when you approach them. Or for the rooster. They'll test out the boxes. I would open the boxes up when the pullets are around 4 months, and put fake eggs in. (Actually I never closed mine, which are lower than the roosts, and no one has ever tried to sleep in them.)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As far as squatting goes, that may or may not be a thing. It depends on one's breeds and if they also have roosters.
When I had various breeds and no roosters, I had a few breeds like Orps, Jersey Giants, Rocks, Welsummers, etc. that would squat when I approached but I'm not sure they did so before they had been laying already. I had some hens of the same breeds that never squatted. I don't remember a Minorca, Ancona, Buttercup, Leghorn, Jaerhon or Penedesenca ever squatting.
Squatting is a trait of calm, docile breeds that have a desire to mate, not necessarily that laying is imminent.
If roosters are running with the flock, they are being mated so likely won't squat for their owner.
If the breeds are wary, skittish, aloof, wild, they definitely won't squat for a human.
I've had anywhere between 40 and 100 chickens per year and at least one rooster with each flock. For the last 4 years, I've had nothing but Penedesencas. I haven't had a hen squat when I approached for nearly 10 years. So if hens squatted when approached were close to laying, that would mean I haven't had eggs in a long time. Yet I collect 30-40 egg a day without a squat.

 

[aart]

Agrees that squatting for humans can be pretty rare.

Wait to get the nests set up until about 16 weeks,
that'll will give them get used to them,
and give you time to 'train' them not to sleep in nests.
Best if roosts are ~ 12" higher than nests.

Here some other tips:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

All that applies to all breeds, not just Aussies.

 

[ash_en_em]

Agrees that squatting for humans can be pretty rare.

Wait to get the nests set up until about 16 weeks,
that'll will give them get used to them,
and give you time to 'train' them not to sleep in nests.
Best if roosts are ~ 12" higher than nests.

Here some other tips:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

All that applies to all breeds, not just Aussies.

Any advice on training them not to sleep in nests?

 

[SueT]

Any advice on training them not to sleep in nests?

Where are the nests in relation to the roost?

 

[aart]

Any advice on training them not to sleep in nests?

Have roosts higher than nests.
Move bird from nest to roost if you find them in there.
Cover nests an hour before roost time, then uncover when you lock up after dark.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
I block nests with a sheet of plywood if necessary.

 

[aart]

I integrate chicks early so have rigged a hinged cover for ease of use, and it's always ready to go.