Will she lay first?

[LittleMissCountry]

So my chickens are around 15 weeks, give or take a few days. I hadn't been thinking about eggs yet, as it still seems far away, especially since two of them are buff orpingtons. However, two are black sex links and I have heard they can lay sooner than the buffs.
So in the past week, one of my black sex links has really gotten more red in her comb and her wattles have grown more. She has also gotten more docile, but I don't know if that is a sign or not...she was always flighty and standoffish before.
I am attaching pics of her (the 1st) and the others for comparison.
I haven't opened up the nest boxes yet. I closed them up six weeks ago because they were sleeping in them. Now they use the roosts. Should I open the boxes back up?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Do you have a picture of the two black ones together? Has she started doing the "egg squat"? If they're used to sleeping on the roosts you should be fine to open the boxes back up. You may have to put a decoy egg in the nest so she understands.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Do you have a picture of the two black ones together? Has she started doing the "egg squat"? If they're used to sleeping on the roosts you should be fine to open the boxes back up. You may have to put a decoy egg in the nest so she understands.

I don't have a picture of them together. The other black one is really skittish and won't let me get too close. I got a picture because she was drinking and I caught her right after. Then she took off. Lol
Stormy, the one that has the red comb and wattles is a little smaller than the other black one also. She did squat one time when I went up to her to pet her, but only once yesterday, and hasn't since.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I just figured it was way too early for them to start laying. Her comb and wattles just seemed to pop this week.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

From what I've read on BSL anywhere from 16-24 weeks is pretty normal.

 

[PirateGirl]

Chickens and when they start laying can be pretty random. Those waddles say she's about ready to lay. Open up the nest boxes. Put a rock or golf ball or fake egg in at least one and hopefully you will have a real egg in the right spot soon. I feel like my girls' combs were slow to grow but waddles seemed to appear almost overnight!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Chickens and when they start laying can be pretty random. Those waddles say she's about ready to lay. Open up the nest boxes. Put a rock or golf ball or fake egg in at least one and hopefully you will have a real egg in the right spot soon. I feel like my girls' combs were slow to grow but waddles seemed to appear almost overnight!

That's what it seemed like to me, too! They just popped out within the last week! I will open the nesting boxes. Will a plastic easter egg work? I don't have golf balls or the right size or shape of rock.
I am going out of state next week for a week and a half. It would be my luck that she would lay her first egg while I am gone! DH will have to keep an eye out.

 

[PirateGirl]

I don't know if a plastic egg will work. It's better than nothing! Some girls get it and just lay in the right spot no matter what, others will lay in random spots no matter what. The best we can do is guide them

 

[Creteloc]

That's what it seemed like to me, too! They just popped out within the last week! I will open the nesting boxes. Will a plastic easter egg work? I don't have golf balls or the right size or shape of rock.
I am going out of state next week for a week and a half. It would be my luck that she would lay her first egg while I am gone! DH will have to keep an eye out.

Plastic Easter eggs work great!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Plastic Easter eggs work great!

Thank you!