When to hunt for eggs

[Ajulycc]

first time chicken mom and we have 7 barred rock pullets. They are somewhere around 16 weeks old ( maybe a bit older got them from TS). The girls are free range until they put themselves in the coup in the evening and I’m wondering what behavior I should look for. (We have one Roo is is starting to be aggressive and will be heading to cull soon) I have placed fake eggs in the nesting box for a few weeks to get them ready hoping they lay in the boxes and not in the yard. They have started digging wholes to lay in during the day all over the place. One under the RV one under the steps and some under trees . Lol Any advice would be great ! Thank you!

 

[JedJackson]

They usually start laying at 16 to 20 weeks old. So now is a good time to start looking. If you hear them cackling, make loud calls that are often joined by others in the flock, that is a good indication that an egg has been layed. It's good that you've put fake eggs in the nest boxes. Hopefully that will encourage them to lay there, but it may take a while. In the meantime, just check out places where they hang out. If you see a lone hen sneak off somewhere or come back from somewhere, then that's another good place to look.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My Golden Comets combs started to get red and they started to squat when you reach down to them. Around 10 days later I noticed a hen fidgeting in the coop.
I rushed out to the garage to make a couple of nest boxes and put in a couple of ceramic eggs. The next day that hen was trying to make a nest on the floor of the coop.
I picked her up and put her in a nest and she stayed.
30 minutes later she started to sing. 5 minutes after she came out of the coop.
I found this. . She laid at 16 1/2 weeks. All 5 were laying by 19 weeks. They are known to lay earlier than most. GC

 

[PirateGirl]

I think my youngest laid at 5.5 months and the oldest at 11 months. All depends the bird. The first and last to lay were the same breed as well. Big red combs and wattles and squatting behavior are a sign that they will lay any day.

 

[Ajulycc]

Thank everyone , looks like I will be roaming all over the yard lol.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Thank everyone , looks like I will be roaming all over the yard lol.

If they have a large pen, keep them in till noon.
Most lay in the morning. GC

 

[Creteloc]

Are you sure the holes aren't dust baths instead of laying places? My hens dig dust baths everywhere but they've never laid in one.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Are you sure the holes aren't dust baths instead of laying places? My hens dig dust baths everywhere but they've never laid in one.

Agreed. GC

 

[Ajulycc]

Are you sure the holes aren't dust baths instead of laying places? My hens dig dust baths everywhere but they've never laid in one.

I’m not sure seems like they are dust baths but this is my first time what do I know ‍

 

[aart]

You might need/want to confine them to coop and run to 'train' them to lay in the coop nests once they do start laying.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.


Here's some tips for determining....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/