Instructions
Watch the hen as she approaches her nesting area. Before laying an egg, she often approaches the area with some hesitation before sitting down.
Time the period that the hen spends sitting in her nesting area. Often, a hen will sit for 30 minutes or longer in one position before laying an egg.
Observe the hen's movements as she sits in her nesting area. If she raises and lowers her feathers occasionally and then increases this behavior to several times per minute, she is probably ready to lay an egg.
Look closely between the feathers underneath the hen's tail. If she is ready to lay an egg, her vent, a slit-like opening about an inch in width, will begin to widen and a red membrane will become visible.
Continue to watch the hen's vent. Before she lays an egg, she will stand up and lower her vent towards the ground. The vent will take on a dome-like appearance and protrude from her body. The vent will turn pink as it stretches. Next, you will see an egg emerging in the middle of her vent. After a few seconds, it will drop, leaving a red membrane hanging loosely from the vent. This membrane will recede back into the hen's body within a few seconds.
How to Tell if a Hen Is Laying
Many people enjoy keeping chickens as pets or as a source of fresh eggs. It can be difficult to tell if a hen is laying an egg until it actually appears beneath her. Before it drops, however, the hen shows several signs that she is ready to lay an egg.