Signs that they will start laying?

[llombardo]

This is my first year with chickens. My two older girls are just over 4 months. One is a barred rock, not sure onthe other one

This is her on the left--she is very friendly, even comes when called(anyone know her breed?)

She was spending some additional time in the coop today where the nesting boxes are. She was just scratching around in there and is healthy. We have had loose poop on and off the last couple days, but I believe it's the heat.

So are there signs, other then the combs turning redder that I should look for?

 

[Spartan22]

She definitely look like ready to lay soon, trial sitting in the nest is one indication, sitting down when you approach her is also one, that she’s mature to mate and lay eggs, you will also hear different sound she make (melodic) before laying. Her pelvic bones will loosen up and will have more space (2-3 fingerssize) to accommodate releasing of eggs. The look of her, she seems to be a Rhode Island Red.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Does she squat when you touch her back? My black sex link started doing that a few weeks before she laid her first egg. She also started scratching around in the nesting box and rearranging things.
My other black sex link and one of my buff orps have recently started squatting as well as checking out the nesting box. My buff orp actually laid in there for an hour yesterday.

 

[llombardo]

So it's ok for them to be in tbere checkng things out? My first thought was she was sick because someone had said they go in there when not feing well.

 

[woodenfarm]

So it's ok for them to be in tbere checkng things out? My first thought was she was sick because someone had said they go in there when not feing well.

It's normal they are seeing what it is all about
She is a Rhode island red

 

[woodenfarm]

It is normal to have a soft egg (egg with no hard shell) for first egg layers till they get the hang of it. Happen to a few of my ladies.

First egg is exciting and feels like it takes forever to happen

 

[LittleMissCountry]

So it's ok for them to be in tbere checkng things out? My first thought was she was sick because someone had said they go in there when not feing well.

Yep, my one that is laying spent about a week scratching around in the nesting box before laying. Sometimes she will lay in there for two or three hours before she actually lays an egg now.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I can attest to the soft shell eggs. My layer had a perfect first egg, but then her second was two eggs at once, stuck together and were soft. One was broken. Since then, she has laid several more soft shell eggs.

 

[llombardo]

Both girls are friendly but I think they have gotten even more friendly. They do squat when I pet them but I want to say they have always done this. They are no longer squawking like crazy when the rooster attempts mating. I had two roosters in there but removed one. My gut told me the one I left in there would be easier on the girls and he is larger so he can't get to them in some places. I was trying to make the best decision I could for the girls. So far it's working. He isn't pulling out any feathers and doesn't chase them down.

I just don't want to miss any eggs. I want no chance of babies. I didn't want roosters, I bought 4 sexed females and two turned out to be boys. Talk about rotten luck for a first timer.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

The squatting is very distinctive. Mine would squat when I petted their back before, but more in a "I am trying to avoid contact" squat. The close to laying squat is when they squat, and slightly extend their wings. Mine also does a foot stomp with it. You would know if you saw it. They completely freeze