Waiting for that first egg!

[cholling11]

So, since I haven't had chickens since I was a child (long time ago!), I have been trying to guess when my 19.5 week old Red Sex links will lay. I have one who has a larger, redder comb than the other three, and she squatted this afternoon when I entered their pen. From what I read that is some indication that she is maturing. I am hoping that means an egg soon! Am I on target? And is there any advice to get the others to that same point? (I know...patience!)

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Mine layed the first egg on this February 9th. Squatting DEFINETLY means thy are close But it’s random how long it will be, a few days, a couple weeks! My first layer (An Easter Egger named Robin) took a few weeks of squatting before she layed. But if your pullets are around the same age as the squatter, it won’t be long!! Every chicken is different, nobody can tell you exactly how long it will be. I used an egg calculator and it said the first egg would be on Feb. 14, but it came earlier! My second layer start a few days later.

Sadly, no, you can’t really force their bodies to lay earlier. It’s how they were made and how they mature. I was expecting the egg for weeks and I lost hope when—pop!—a green egg sat in the nesting box when I came to let them in the run one morning.

Another sign that Robin gave was that she would not SHUT UP! She was so loud, and sounded like she was in pain, but acted normal. I asked BYC and they said that it was normal for a pullet about to start laying. She did this for a while.

Just a heads up, if you are lucky enough to be there when they lay it, it will sound like what chickens sound like on tv and in animations, “buk-buk-buk...BAGOCK!” Some of the flockmates will start doing this. My buff orpington pullet, Brittney, did it today while one of my Barred Rocks was laying. It’s funny when they do it!

 

[cholland]

Sounds like you are close. They should be checking out the nest boxes? Maybe sitting in there for a bit. Could still be another week.

Chickens do what they want. I've had some from the same hatch, start laying months apart.
Breeds selected for egg laying should start pretty consistently by 19-22 weeks

 

[Wylie13]

I have two red sex links that both recently started laying. Their combs started to get big and red quite quickly (Or it surprised me anyway as this was my first flock) Our first layer layed her first egg at just under 21 weeks old and it was 12 days after her first squat. The second sex link layed just over 21 weeks old (4 days after the first one layed) and it was exactly two weeks after squatting. Granted all birds are different and they will lay when they lay but that was my experience with the red sex links. Oh and they have been great layers for us. Both went 17 days straight before taking their first day off. Hopefully you will get that first egg soon! I know for me it seemed like I lived out by the coop until that first egg came, and then .. Best of luck!

 

[cholling11]

Oh my goodness! I remember them doing that! When I was a kid, we had one, or sometimes two pretty large flocks, and when one would start, they all would join in! I used to think they had lost their minds!

Sounds like you are close. They should be checking out the nest boxes? Maybe sitting in there for a bit. Could still be another week.

Chickens do what they want. I've had some from the same hatch, start laying months apart.
Breeds selected for egg laying should start pretty consistently by 19-22 weeks

So, since I haven't had chickens since I was a child (long time ago!), I have been trying to guess when my 19.5 week old Red Sex links will lay. I have one who has a larger, redder comb than the other three, and she squatted this afternoon when I entered their pen. From what I read that is some indication that she is maturing. I am hoping that means an egg soon! Am I on target? And is there any advice to get the others to that same point? (I know...patience!)

Mine layed the first egg on this February 9th. Squatting DEFINETLY means thy are close But it’s random how long it will be, a few days, a couple weeks! My first layer (An Easter Egger named Robin) took a few weeks of squatting before she layed. But if your pullets are around the same age as the squatter, it won’t be long!! Every chicken is different, nobody can tell you exactly how long it will be. I used an egg calculator and it said the first egg would be on Feb. 14, but it came earlier! My second layer start a few days later.

Sadly, no, you can’t really force their bodies to lay earlier. It’s how they were made and how they mature. I was expecting the egg for weeks and I lost hope when—pop!—a green egg sat in the nesting box when I came to let them in the run one morning.

Another sign that Robin gave was that she would not SHUT UP! She was so loud, and sounded like she was in pain, but acted normal. I asked BYC and they said that it was normal for a pullet about to start laying. She did this for a while.

Just a heads up, if you are lucky enough to be there when they lay it, it will sound like what chickens sound like on tv and in animations, “buk-buk-buk...BAGOCK!” Some of the flockmates will start doing this. My buff orpington pullet, Brittney, did it today while one of my Barred Rocks was laying. It’s funny when they do it!

 

[cholling11]

It finally happened today. My first egg! And the second girl is squatting now. I am so excited!

 

[deputygeorge]

So, since I haven't had chickens since I was a child (long time ago!), I have been trying to guess when my 19.5 week old Red Sex links will lay. I have one who has a larger, redder comb than the other three, and she squatted this afternoon when I entered their pen. From what I read that is some indication that she is maturing. I am hoping that means an egg soon! Am I on target? And is there any advice to get the others to that same point? (I know...patience!)

Looks like it. Get ready..

 

[cholling11]

Looks like it. Get ready..

It happened today! Yay!

 

[deputygeorge]

Great. Keep a paper trail to see how things are going. Don't trust memory.