When do my pullets start laying eggs?

[Sarah B.]

So, currently I've got two pullets, both two months old (and one cockerel the same age) and I'm wondering when they'll start laying eggs. . . legally, it's illegal to have a rooster/cockerel in my town so once he's fully grown I'll have to sell my cockerel (Cleo) but I really want a bigger flock so if I can prolong selling him (you see, I don't want to sell him but my family doesn't particularly want a crowing rooster waking them up so they're waiting for me -the chicken expert- to say that he's ready for selling) for long enough, or at least until my pullets start laying because then I'll get little chicks and then I can sell Cleo. So I'm wondering how long until they (Ruby and Thora) will start laying eggs. . .

Ruby is a Icelandic and Thora is an EE. The cockerel is Icelandic.

 

[theoldchick]

Pullets usually start laying around 25 weeks. However, some breeds may take longer.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Have you considered a no crow collar? Some people have had great success with using it. Then maybe you could keep Cleo?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I see you are in Iceland, thanks for that information, it helps. Also your chicks are only two months old, more good information.

The basic answer to when can you expect to see eggs is when you see one. I know, not much help. I’ve had some pullets start to lay at 16 weeks, I’ve had some not start until after nine months. You just don’t know. Some of it depends on the individual with heredity having an influence. But I’ve had full sisters hatched together not start laying anywhere close together. Heredity has an influence but is no guarantee.

The time of year in Iceland is against you. Daylight has a big influence on when chickens lay. Length of daylight is part of it and you are getting ready for some pretty short days. Also whether the days are getting longer or shorter has an influence. Your days, like mine, are getting shorter, that doesn’t help. Severe weather, cold or hot, can have an influence too. Chicks hatched in spring will often start to lay in late summer, early fall. That’s your best bet to get a pullet starting to lay early. So, yes, many things against you.

With all that said, I’ve had pullets start laying in the middle of December, among the shortest days of the year and still getting shorter and I do not add supplemental lights. By all the rules they should never have started laying then but they did. With their age and your climate (probably not as severe as many of us imagine) December is possible but February or March is probably more realistic for the first eggs.

Do you have an incubator? It is extremely unlikely either of those pullets will go broody anytime soon after they start laying. I have hatched pullet eggs and had some success, but my hatch rate and survivability of the chicks is lower than if you wait until the pullets have been laying a month or more. I’ve hatched them and will again, but my expectations for them are not real high.

For different reasons I don’t think your dream of hatching eggs from that cockerel and those two pullets is very realistic unless you can keep that cockerel. I know there is a strong urge to hatch your own eggs but I think your best way to increase your flock is to either get more baby chicks or get fertile eggs from someone else to hatch.

 

[JacquelineJ]

So, currently I've got two pullets, both two months old (and one cockerel the same age) and I'm wondering when they'll start laying eggs. . . legally, it's illegal to have a rooster/cockerel in my town so once he's fully grown I'll have to sell my cockerel (Cleo) but I really want a bigger flock so if I can prolong selling him (you see, I don't want to sell him but my family doesn't particularly want a crowing rooster waking them up so they're waiting for me -the chicken expert- to say that he's ready for selling) for long enough, or at least until my pullets start laying because then I'll get little chicks and then I can sell Cleo. So I'm wondering how long until they (Ruby and Thora) will start laying eggs. . .

Ruby is a Icelandic and Thora is an EE. The cockerel is Icelandic.

I've currently got 20 week old icelandic pullets and a few look "close" to first egg but nothing yet. My cockerels are all showing signs of being ready to mate with the girls - one has done. I've a pen next to that cockerel and it's got 7-8 week old icelandic in it, those boys are watching the older birds and one even mimicked "mating" on a poor unsuspecting sun bathing pullet. He still hasn't got the ability lol but he did have a go..

 

[Nikusha]

Hi everyone.

My chickens were hatched on 13/04/2017 and I just got an egg last saturday on 11/11/2017.
I have 5 black australorp hens. I guess just one strated layin'.