16 weeks old.....

[onionheadtg2014]

Hi 6 of my hens will be 16 weeks old tomorrow and I was wanting to know at what age do they usually start to lay. I have chooks younger than that that have already started crowing and I am just trying t be prepared..... Thank you......

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hi 6 of my hens will be 16 weeks old tomorrow and I was wanting to know at what age do they usually start to lay. I have chooks younger than that that have already started crowing and I am just trying t be prepared..... Thank you......

It really depends - what breed(s) are your birds? Some are quicker to start than others - in general anywhere from 18-28 weeks is a good average, though some take even longer than that.

 

[onionheadtg2014]

It really depends - what breed(s) are your birds? Some are quicker to start than others - in general anywhere from 18-28 weeks is a good average, though some take even longer than that.

I have an Easter Egger, Barred Rock, Turken and 3 Egyptian Fayoumis...... I know that the Fayoumis are suppose to mature faster but I was just wondering..... I am trying to get my nest boxes set up and basically getting prepared......

 

[iwiw60]

I have an Easter Egger, Barred Rock, Turken and 3 Egyptian Fayoumis...... I know that the Fayoumis are suppose to mature faster but I was just wondering..... I am trying to get my nest boxes set up and basically getting prepared......

Be sure to "block off" your nest boxes until they start laying. There's nothing worse than allowing future hens to sleep in their nest boxes. Here's a page that might help you detect when they're going to lay eggs.

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/11/understanding-chicken-behavior.html

 

[aart]

I have an Easter Egger, Barred Rock, Turken and 3 Egyptian Fayoumis...... I know that the Fayoumis are suppose to mature faster but I was just wondering..... I am trying to get my nest boxes set up and basically getting prepared......

You can set your nesting boxes up now, with some fake eggs or golf balls in them for the birds to check out, just don't let them sleep/roost in them at night. Make sure your nests are lower, by a foot at least, than the roosts as they like to roost as high as possible.

Hopefully they are roosting at night already and it shouldn't be an issue, but watch them and move them to the roost after dark if they roost in the nests....bad habit if they are allowed to acquire it. Bad habit also if they start laying elsewhere than the nests before you open them.

 

[iwiw60]

You can set your nesting boxes up now, with some fake eggs or golf balls in them for the birds to check out, just don't let them sleep/roost in them at night. Make sure your nests are lower, by a foot at least, than the roosts as they like to roost as high as possible.

Hopefully they are roosting at night already and it shouldn't be an issue, but watch them and move them to the roost after dark if they roost in the nests....bad habit if they are allowed to acquire it. Bad habit also if they start laying elsewhere than the nests before you open them.

I'm in agreement with @aart 100%. Some members would disagree, but I don't plan on hanging the sign "Open for Business" until I see the chicken squat and know they are ready to lay. Bad habits are hard to break, and this is one of them...thanks for posting that reply!

 

[aart]

Quote: Actually sounds like you are not in agreement with what I said.
I think they should have access to the nests before they show signs of laying and train them to the roost if needed

I'd rather break a 'roosting in nest' habit than a 'lay somewhere other than the nest' habit.

 

[iwiw60]

@aart .. oopsie.

 

[onionheadtg2014]

OMG I went out to the coop and found her in the nest box panting.... I sure hope she is gonna lay me an egg......

 

[iwiw60]

Anything yet????