Quote: Noooo.... I meant that if you were hoping for a broody hen to incubate eggs then it would probably be next Spring before one went broody.... you will get eggs way before then!
If you have had them a month, then they should be well settled in. If 2 of them are showing reddened combs, then it could be any day for them to start laying. Are they checking out the nest boxes. Some people say that their pullets squat down when you approach them and that is a sign that they will start laying soon, but mine didn't do that. You might see the cockerel escort the pullets to the nesting boxes and check them out with her, a bit like house hunting as a couple! If he is just a young cockerel, he may not have learned to do that yet though.
It sounds like you may be making "a first egg" report any day though.... buying a dozen eggs from the shop usually does the trick though.... the same sort of principle as... wait all day for a bus and then 3 come at once.
Best wishes
Barbara
If you have had them a month, then they should be well settled in. If 2 of them are showing reddened combs, then it could be any day for them to start laying. Are they checking out the nest boxes. Some people say that their pullets squat down when you approach them and that is a sign that they will start laying soon, but mine didn't do that. You might see the cockerel escort the pullets to the nesting boxes and check them out with her, a bit like house hunting as a couple! If he is just a young cockerel, he may not have learned to do that yet though.
It sounds like you may be making "a first egg" report any day though.... buying a dozen eggs from the shop usually does the trick though.... the same sort of principle as... wait all day for a bus and then 3 come at once.
Best wishes
Barbara
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