Story of a boy and his chickens.

Zackman23434 · Oct 13, 2015

Zackman23434 · Oct 13, 2015

Zackman23434 · Oct 13, 2015

Zackman23434 · Oct 14, 2015

Do the pullets look pretty close to egg laying to anyone else. From an appearance stand point ofcourse?

aart · Oct 14, 2015

Couple of them do.

New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying, spreading the bedding everywhere. They will scratch around a bit less in nest as they get used to the routine. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

2 bony points(pelvic bones) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

GitaBooks · Oct 15, 2015

I love watching chickens forage out in wide open places. They look so content.

SemperChicken · Oct 15, 2015

GitaBooks said:
I love watching chickens forage out in wide open places. They look so content.

I agree. It's very relaxing to watch them enjoying life. I had my older hens out of the run yesterday and watched her find a patch of sunlight and just sprawl out. Makes my heart happy.

Zackman23434 · Oct 23, 2015

20 weeks today. Lots of pictures from today and past couple days. Expecting eggs soon judging by the looks of most of the girls. No squatting or egg song persay though.