Question on pre-laying chicken behaviors

[foodieandeggs]

My chickens are 14 wks. old. I am new at chicken keeping. I would like to know what behaviors to look for in my chickens when they are about to lay an egg. I read that chickens pace when ready to lay but is there something else to look for?

Thanks!

 

[Domestic_goddess]

They usually start to lay around 5-6 months old, so you have a ways to go yet. You'll notice that when you walk up to them, they squat and you'll soon see eggs after that point.

 

[foodieandeggs]

What exactly is squatting?

 

[TwoCrows]

They will stop abruptly, hunker down low to the ground, wings out a bit as if to allow a rooster to mount them. Hens will do this when it comes time to start laying and pretty much do it the rest of their days.

At 14 weeks, you probably have another 3 weeks or so till you see eggs. Some heavy breed birds can wait till they reach 6 months old, so it depends on the breed. Smaller breed chickens will lay around 17 - 18 weeks old.

 

[GoChick]

Mine when close to laying, besides squatting as mentioned above, would also spend time in the nests, come out and sing the egg song... maybe just practicing?

Want to teach your chickens a useful trick?
When mine started to squat, I would point to them and say "Sit"! now, whenever I want to pick them up, I just point and say "Sit".

but... if you have a rooster, they usually won't squat for you. they'll do it for the rooster.