Signs of first egg laying?

[B40chick]

My pullets are close to egg laying age. Is there any signs or behavior I can watch for that indicate when they are about to begin?

 

[MountainWoman73]

Squatting like they would for a rooster, singing the egg song (buk buk buk buk BAGAWK), and checking out/rearranging straw in the nest boxes are all good signs.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

My pullets are close to egg laying age. Is there any signs or behavior I can watch for that indicate when they are about to begin?

Their combs turn really red and start to swell a bit.

 

[Chickmama672]

Their combs turn really red and start to swell a bit.

I know about WHEN the combs should start to darken and change but when it does happen, how long does it take? Is it like an overnight thing..gradually over a few days or weeks or what?

 

[Mamatomany123]

Squatting like they would for a rooster, singing the egg song (buk buk buk buk BAGAWK), and checking out/rearranging straw in the nest boxes are all good signs.

Ooh, this gets me excited. One or some of my girls have been kicking the shavings around in their nesting boxes.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I know about WHEN the combs should start to darken and change but when it does happen, how long does it take? Is it like an overnight thing..gradually over a few days or weeks or what?

In my experience it’s sort of happens over a few days and then they usually lay a few weeks later

 

[Mamatomany123]

Heres my pullet that I believe will be laying soon. They're my first chickens so I'm still learning as I go. She started turning red about 2 weeks ago.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Reddening and swelling of combs, squatting, interest in messing around with the nest boxes. Now, not all hens will squat, but for me, every one of my hens has squatted before onset of laying and begun laying 7-14 days after onset.