I have 3 australorps 19 weeks old

Gonzo

Songster
10 Years
May 25, 2009
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I have 3 australorp hens, they're sisters, and the same age 19 weeks old. Only 2 of them are laying. They started laying within 1 day of each other. Elma Jane is yet to lay an egg. Is this unusual? I really wasn't sure. The two that lay are very friendly and would follow you off a cliff, Elma who hasn't layed yet is very shy. She won't approach you like the other 2, and holding her is out of the question. Could this have anything to do with her not laying? Do you think she'll ever come around? We're new to this stage in chicken development and I don't know if I should be worried. Please help!
 
My Australorps are 20 weeks, some are laying, some are not. They mature at different rates. Give them time. My 1.5 year old Australorp lays at least 6 huge eggs a week, never quit over winter, has never molted.
 
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I don't have an answer, but I am excited as I have an 18 week Austrolorpe and hope he will be laying soon.
 
I don't have an answer, but I am excited as I have an 18 week Austrolorpe and hope he will be laying soon.

Sorry, I didn't realize a "he" could start laying?​
 
can anyone show me the difference between a austroulorpe and a black giant, i got a black rooster i thought at 5 days old , he grew very fast well im pretty sure its a pullet but a very large one ,very sweet follows me every where but i dont know what kind she is, i ordered 5 black giants from hatchery they seem to be maturing slow not big like the other one did, so can any one show me the difference she is sixteen weeks old.
 
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Giants take much longer to grow to full size than lorps do.

Mine are about 24 weeks now and the giants are the same size as the lorps. The only way to tell at this point is to look at the bottoms of their feet.

Giants have yellow pads and Lorps have more grey/spotted feet. It's more pronounced in my hens than my roo.

Also....my giant roo is MEAN and runs the coop.

Compare feet!
 
It seems to me also that hens "friendly up" when they start laying. Many of mine were hatched and raised by broodies, so they are quite shy. Up until they start laying. At that point, there isn't much difference between the broody-raised pullets and the ones that I hand raised.

Of course there are differences in personality of each individual bird, but I'm never worried that a shy pullet won't come around as she matures.

Also, my pullets of the same breed don't necessarily start laying at the same time. There can be a gap of several weeks. Maybe many weeks... It just depends.

By the way, lucky you! I love Australorps! Beautiful birds!
 

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