Signs of Maturity in Pullets

[aoxa]

I'm wondering what the signs a pullet is nearing ready to lay. I have a few pullets that I am not 100% sure of the age. I am not in a rush to see them lay their first egg, I was just curious.

My SLW - Dott on the day we brought her home. They said she was around 3 months old at the time. We brought her home on Sept 24/11.. So she is almost 5 months old. She doesn't squat without me touching her, but she does squat.

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Here she is almost 2 weeks ago.

Does she look to be 5 months old?

 

[elmo]

Squatting is a sign of maturity, as you know. The other thing that changed in our pullets right before they started to lay was their combs got noticeably redder.

Your pullets may not start laying until spring because of the shortness of the daylight now, though.

 

[duckinnut]

I would say yes to 5 months still a little away from laying I think. 5months is about 21/22weeks at best and POL for for SLW 24/28 wks.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
They have extended daylight because I have laying hens. They get a little over 12 hours of light a day.

Thanks for your help

I have a very young pullet that started squatting at 14 weeks! Kids these days.. They just mature too fast

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
Thanks

I am not in a rush. I hate not knowing exactly how many weeks she is.. I will say she is 22 weeks old on Saturday

 

[Hiram]

These chicks look about a month or so away from laying. True squatting is a sign of maturity, however, their combs,wattles, and the area of feathers around the vent tell me more. If you "play" with them everyday, you'll see these body parts change very quickly when they're ready to lay. It'll be like "wow look at her comb and she got a fat butt". I mean it'll surprise you in a good way. After this just listen for the egg laying song and that's it.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:

I have four that are laying (on is on break because she is molting), and the rest don't know what the heck an egg song is! I have only heard the egg song in the context of a warning call because my cat was crossing the yard. I guess I shouldn't complain, because everyone says it is annoying, but I want to hear the egg song!

Thanks so much for your input! I'm glad to know that I'm right on the money with my guess of 5 months old then

I really appreciate your help.

 

[Hiram]

At first I didn't hear it. This was because I couldn't tell it apart from the warning, happy, and begging sounds. Only after sitting with them all day for 2 or 3 weekends did I start to understand them. One thing that will help is the egg song comes with a proud walk about. I believe this behavior is also used in establishing the pecking order. I say this because I've seen a hen who was number five move up to a tie with number three when she started laying and singing. She was like "I'm laying now, b###hes! You better move out the way". It's was funny. Just go out there one day and sit from 10 to 4, you'll catch em doing it. Just don't fall sleep with a "cup" of wine in your hand like I have.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
I sit with them all day long as it is

People think I'm crazy! I know all the sounds my girls make. They make a whining sound before they go in to lay their eggs. It sounds irritated and fast paced. The don't do the bawk bawk BAGOOOCK though.

I can tell when my roo sees a bird fly by and when he sees a ground creature just by the sound of his warning. They have such a language! I can tell each of my girls apart from their sounds.