Single hen

[Valkyrie]

Well we have weaned the girls off the growers pellets and now into the layers. The two big girls are displaying signs of maturity and have been for some time now - very red combs and wattles (Sioux has very wobbly wattles, so cute) and are crouching when I stroke them, although Apache whinges when I do. Cheyenne still not happy with stroking unless she is absorbed with treats and she still has pale moments and blushes, but mostly red. Both the big girls have started whingeing at odd times, even when I have given in to their "let me out" demands. Does this happen as they feel changes in their bodies?

Or is has it something to do with someone further down the road who has a cock and he has been crowing. I haven't heard him, but OH did this morning while walking past that garden, so I expect the girls know he is there too. Do you think that the girls are now into "men" and want a boyfriend and it is coinciding with their hopefully soon egg laying???!! Cheyenne isn't whingeing at all, it is just the older two. Did anyone else's girls whinge before they started to lay? Any ideas much appreciated.

 

PS Someone else with chickens down the road is a huge relief to me with regard to my neighbours - at least my girls don't crow (so far)! Now if only a few more people do the same . . .

[moochoo]

The best barometer for nearly egg laying is the crouching. Once they start crouching you should get an egg within 7 days.

On the whinging front, my girls do that anyway so I don't know if it's to do with imminant laying or not.

[Valkyrie]

Thank you Moochoo. I didn't know the time scale of the point of lay. The girls do whinge for a variety of reasons, but this "whaaaing" as opposed to "oooOOOHHHing" has only started up in the last few days, and only the oldest two. They have all they need, and even if offered food they will just walk around with me still making the whingey racket (them - not me!). The two bigger ones whinge at each other too, sometimes it sounds like they are trying to do a duet - unfortunately it isn't so pleasing on the ears as they have no idea of harmony! However, if I am walking around and bend down to stroke them they are not so willing to crouch but more duck and run off.

This evening they completely ignored their bed time snack - this is the first time that has happened, and just followed me round complaining while I poop scooped. When they went back in the cube run I thought they were eating, but when I closed them up for the night, it was still the same as I had left it - not one morsel touched (Cheyenne prefers her pellets anyway, so doesn't bother her).

They were Flubenvetted at the beginning of the month, so not that, and they have been powdered and Vaselined for any nasties - and they dust bath occasionally, so I don't think it is any sort of parasite problem.

So perhaps we will hear an announcement of sorts in the next few days. I hope so, it has been a long time coming, but as yet nothing in the nest box even though I keep looking hopefully in there. I will have to keep a watchful eye on them in case they find a nice place to lay in the garden because they range all over the place. I'd rather it be the egg laying than a symptom of something awful.

[moochoo]

I wouldn't worry about them being ill. I'm sure it's just that they're finding their voices.

[Valkyrie]

Oh great - 3 noisy girlies and a yappy daughter!

I am now hoping they all get laryngitis!

Thanks Moochoo