Telltale Signs

[kodiakchicken]

Quote:
Your Eagle looks almost exactly like our EE! And, ironically, we named our girl Ladyhawk!

 

[Curlita]

If they crouch down when you pet them on the back, then it's a matter of a couple weeks. I've also noticed that mine do a lot of dust-bathing and hollow-digging before they start laying.

When they start, mine take about 30 minutes or so of setting before they lay. I assume they get quicker as they go.

 

[winekntrychicks]

Quote:
Your Eagle looks almost exactly like our EE! And, ironically, we named our girl Ladyhawk!

Is that because she reminds you of a hawk??? When Eagle was a chick she would stand in my hand, spread her wings and flap, sometimes she would get "lift off" I said she was doing her Eagle impression. The name stuck.

 

[kodiakchicken]

Yeah, she looks a lot like hawk or a golden eagle. She's my most skittish too, much like a wild bird.

 

[winekntrychicks]

Quote:
I have Two EEs. Eagle is so tame and will step into my hand off the perch. Her flock mate Cheeka has an all black head and really looks hawkish, the only time she was friendly was the first time I put them into their coop. I went down just before dusk to check on them and sat in the corner of the coop to observe. She seemed agitated and flew into my lap and settled down. I rigged up a light for the for the first few weeks until she seemed okay.javascript:insert_text('

 

[mylittlehof]

This has been great info!

thanks! Another question: I have not "opened" up the nesting boxes yet - I have them blocked off in the coop for when they got older and closer to laying, I didn't want them sleeping in the boxes. My ladies are 15 weeks old now, when is it best to set out the nesting boxes so they can start getting the idea of using them for egg laying? Thanks.

 

[christmaschicken]

I have little shelves built in front of the nesting boxes and they never sleep in the boxes they are always on the shelves in front they all huddle up together at night and during the day unless they are laying they are not in the boxes...

 

[mirjam]

My Barred Rock, Polly laid her first egg last Friday!!! Just as Curlita mentioned, she started to crouch about 10 days before. Now, one of the Australorps is crouching as well. The first eggs are so tiny. They are almost too cute to crack open and eat. And the best thing: Polly is indeed using the nest boxes and has laid 4 perfect little eggs in 5 days!

 

[Jilara]

Well, I'm hoping to see action from Bianca, the Cornish X, but nothing yet. She turned 20 weeks last week, and has been fluffing the nest boxes and sitting in them, delivering big poops, and has insanely red comb and wattles. And squats every time she sees me coming toward the run. But it's all just to fake me out, I'm sure! I've been waiting a week, now, and still nothing.

The other two are still growing combs and wattles, though they're two weeks older, so I don't expect any eggs from them for a while.

Do you guys find that the suspense is intense?