19 and a half weeks old and still no eggs :( egg countdown anyone??

[Rhoise]

My first egg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My girls are 22 weeks old. Its a small egg.....but an egg just the same! I am soooooo happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is one beautiful egg! very envious

 

[FirewifeJess]

Well I have 7 girls who are now 18 weeks old; the other 5 are younger by a week to 10 weeks, so I've got forever to wait for those ones, but I think I could pretty much start expecting eggs any time now right?? I have read 20 weeks is average, so technically some of my birds could start as early as now? I have a RIR, black Australorp, 2 Buff Orps, 2 Easter Eggers, and a Welsummer at 18 weeks now. C'mon girls!!!

 

[Rhoise]

One of my Easter Eggers laid her first egg today, a pretty little green egg, about half the size of the Red Star eggs I get, perfectly formed. Perfect shell and all!!! I'm so proud!!! She was 18 weeks old as of this past Saturday, July 28th I will post a pic of it later, couldn't get it to work tonight.

congrats congrats congrats!!!!!!

 

[Rhoise]

Finally, our first egg. I think Arnold layed this one but not sure Didn't lay in nesting box though, just on ground in run area!

Yay!!!!!! Arnold? we have a girl named Frankie short for Frankinstein, the golden sex links were huge compared to everyone else when they were little ;-)

 

[Rhoise]

Well got my first squat Sunday, now I have three girls out of nine squatting for me, I am very excited because one is only 16.5 weeks old...

Weird thing happened yesterday, I was heading to the coop after changing the waterer when I almost tripped over something, so I cussed at the cat, and then looked and had to laugh out load when I saw that it was Frankie our Golden Sex Link had thrown her self infront of me in full squat!!!! I almost killed her before I got my first egg!!!!

When they squat, I rub their backs, they posture and then stand up looking very satisfied and full body shake off from head to tail. The dust from their bodies poofs into a big "pig pen cloud" very funny to see.......

 

[bruceha2000]

....and was surprised to see they are fertile!!!!!

How did you determine this?

 

[bruceha2000]

We're guessing that our 6 Australorps were born on March 10th, and the first one laid an egg on July 17th.

July 27th - March 10th = 17 weeks to first egg
June 11th + 17 weeks = October 16th to potential first egg.

(is that a different form of Chicken Math?)

OK, I still have some time before I need to build those nest boxes

Still, that is at LEAST a month before I figured I'd get eggs. Not that I would complain of course! I have lots of people asking "when can I get eggs?". Many more people asking than I can supply given the expected 45 a week from the 12 birds. Plus, I figure WE should eat as many of them as we want. That tends to run 12 to 18 a week. Must be I need MORE CHICKENS! The 'real' chicken math

Since that isn't likely to happen right off, I'll just have to encourage my girls to be superstars and lay more than average for their respective breeds. It might help if the stupid things would go outside and forage. They sit in the window and look out but they don't GO out even though we threw them all out one day and they seemed to enjoy it. Only 3 will put themselves out and they don't stay long. Maybe they want the safety in numbers thing and go back in.


OK, I am NOT going to count my eggs before they are laid.

 

[OHSpartan]

How did you determine this?

Check out this thread....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[Pngzv]

16 eggs this week!! Quiche in the oven rite now

 

[marianne7]

Oh man if she is that would be terrible! Did she gobble it up without a trace of leftovers? I'd send her to the boiling pot!

Now now 'chicknlove' dont recomment the boiling pot just yet.... lol' - behave, Rae Rae2 - if the chicken was eating all your eggs, there would be some egg residue left, they do NOT eat everything, they are after the yoke for protein, they wouldnt eat all of the shell too, Chickens vary with laying eggs, yes they can start from about 18 weeks, but some can be as late as 23 weeks, dont despair, they will start laying, weather, stress etc can affect chickens, they are sensitive little critters, just be patient....