Squatting for 3 weeks but no egg?

[meadrian]

Hi! My Buff Brahma is 8 months old and has been squatting for three weeks. I know they might take longer than other breeds to lay, but is it normal for her to be squatting so long without an egg? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Not unusual for slower maturing birds to squat for a bit prior to laying.

 

[meadrian]

Thanks!

 

[HonkABC]

It may also be because it is winter and the days are short, unless you are providing supplemental light. Otherwise, I would agree with @sourland .

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi! My Buff Brahma is 8 months old and has been squatting for three weeks. I know they might take longer than other breeds to lay, but is it normal for her to be squatting so long without an egg? Thanks!

There are several signs that a pullet might possibly getting close to laying an egg. "Might possibly" does not mean absolutely beyond a shadow of a doubt. Squatting is one of those.

Squatting is an act of submission. The one on top is dominating the one on the bottom, sometimes by force, sometimes willingly. I don't know if she is squatting for you or squatting for another chicken. In an all-girls flock I've seen a pullet squat for the dominant hen. I've seen boys squat for boys. When pullets get close to laying some sometimes are more prone to squat. It is a good sign but not an absolute guarantee she will soon be laying.

I once saw a 13 week old pullet willingly squat for a 13 week old cockerel. She did not lay an egg for another 6 or 7 weeks. She was submitting to his dominance, even at that age, not looking to get her eggs fertilized.

Does she have a bright red comb and wattles? Those often turn bright red when she is ready to lay. That bright red is a sign to the rooster that her eggs need to be fertilized. Other things can cause her comb and wattles to turn bright red but it is a good sign.

Some pullets (some, not all) look for a good place to lay an egg a week or so before they start. That often involves scratching in the nests. To me that is a really good sign that they are getting close.

When they are ready to lay their vents change. Instead of the vent being hard and tight, it enlarges and turns moist and pink. When you compare one that is laying to one that is not the difference is really obvious. To me that is a real good sign.

But to me the only sign that comes with a guarantee is when you actually see an egg. Everything else is just an indication they might possibly be close. It can be frustrating.

 

[meadrian]

Great info! Thanks. She's squatting for me. We don't use any extra lights, just the light of day. She's ventured into the nest once or twice. Guess it's just on her terms! Thanks again for the info!