will hens "sing" before they begin laying for the first time?

[jreynolds24]

I cant get the image up, its just a sml egg


I have on ckn who likes to be held and if ur sitting she'll jump on you... and today shr looked like she was trying to lay an egg next to us ? Is that normal her little hiny was pulsing and she was panting and scratching the ground sitting getting up repeatedly? Anyone experience this strange behavior?

 

[krista74]

Mine never did the 'squat' and still don't do it - for me, anyway! I've watched them like hawks but have only ever seen it when George (our cockerel) tried to love on them! A day or two before my first three started laying, they were curious with the nesting boxes and would often pop in and out and play around making house. They would also make strange sounds the day before they laid their first egg - a screech/scream sound (almost like a bark of alarm) which of course bought me running to see if they were ok. I think they were gearing up to sing the "I've got an egg" song - just finding their big girl voices! Two days ago a new chicken started 'screaming' in the morning - I am eagerly anticipating her first egg any day now! Krista

 

[jreynolds24]

Lol I love the name George! Ours is Bert! This is all sooo exciting!

 

[krista74]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one, dropping everything at the sound of The Egg Song, eagerly looking into nesting boxes, and finding nothing but a plastic egg! I agree, it IS exciting, I am absolutely loving every bit of owning chickens. I didn't realise there was so much to worry about though - getting the feed right, mites, lice, bumblefoot - I'm getting a real education and have been lucky the people on this site have been so patient and informative with my 'newbie' questions! Enjoy the experience, and I hope many more eggs come your way (and mine, for that matter!) Krista

 

[jreynolds24]

Oh and the one following us around laid her first egg right next to us sooo weird

 

[LBurt6]

My girls are 20 weeks old today. I've got 3 white leg-horns, 2 black sex-links, and 1 New Hampshire red. So far no eggs in the boxes. My ladies free range on our 1/2 acre property during the day and sleep in the coop at night. I've been checking all there favorite resting spots in the yard but so far no eggs either. I've heard about this squatting thing, but I'm not sure I understand it. So they squat when you try to pet them or something? Anyway I guess I'll keep waiting I feel like a nervous mom pacing the outside of the delivery room.

 

[subhanalah]

My girls are 20 weeks old today. I've got 3 white leg-horns, 2 black sex-links, and 1 New Hampshire red. So far no eggs in the boxes. My ladies free range on our 1/2 acre property during the day and sleep in the coop at night. I've been checking all there favorite resting spots in the yard but so far no eggs either. I've heard about this squatting thing, but I'm not sure I understand it. So they squat when you try to pet them or something? Anyway I guess I'll keep waiting I feel like a nervous mom pacing the outside of the delivery room. :/

they squat when you approach them or linger over them.
I just got my first egg today.
She'll be 18 weeks Saturday and squatted for the first time exactly 2 weeks ago.

 

[LBurt6]

Mine haven't done any "squatting" either but two of them are doing an alarm like squawk. Fingers Crossed.

 

[Citychick11]

Update please! Mine will be 16 weeks tomorrow, and I think my 2 Delawares are getting close. I'm most excited to see what color the eggs are of my 2 Easter Eggers. They are black-headed with brown feathers, so they might be Olive Eggers.

TJ