what is the earliest age you got an egg?

[I-Have-Happy-Hens]

what is the earliest age you got an egg?

My girls are comeing to the point where the should start to lay.

I want to know how soon you got yours so i know how early to start looking for one.



Thanks

 

[eggers85]

One of my girls started last week @ 15 wks. She skipped a few days and now seems daily. Yesterday one of the others started, though it was a strange looking little thing. Hope the oystershell kicks in quick!

 

[I-Have-Happy-Hens]

what kind of chicken was it?

 

[countrygirl911]

what is the oystershell for

 

[joletabey]

My Delaware Cora laid her first egg at 17 1/2 weeks, her second one a few days later.

 

[MattalynsBarn]

Most chickens start laying between 16 and 20 weeks. The oyster shells are for calcium.

 

[poodlepill]

YAY my first batch of pullets (2-SLW, 1-RIR, 2-BR 1-BO) are 18 weeks old tomorrow!!! I think the BR's are winding up

 

[SpringChickens]

I had one at 16.5 weeks - an EE.

 

[Wynette]

Average is 24 weeks, believe that or not.

Just a quick comment - don't be in too big of a rush for them to lay - not trying to throw a wet blanket out there, but if they begin laying too early, you can have laying issues later on such as prolapse and internal laying. So...best to leave them on chick feed or flock raiser until you see that first egg!

ETA: I have a beautiful Wheaten Ameraucana that is 43 weeks old tomorrow and has still not laid. Sigh.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Quote:
The oyster shell is to give the hens extra calcium. The calcium helps the egg shells to be stronger so they aren't mis-shappen or so they don't crack as soon as they are layed (which can encourage egg eating chickens) and such.