21 weeks and laying?

[kesrchicky16]

Ok so i hatched some backyard mix chicks on January 12th. I got super lucky and had 5 of 12 females. My roo and cockerel had been showing interest for the last couple weeks but i figured it was "hornyness" because I had 24 hens going into winter and am down to 14 plus the 5 hatched pullets.

Well i just collected a "pullet" sized egg! Could they really be coming into adolescence so early? They are only 21 weeks. One of their brothers started crowing at 14 weeks before he was sent to camp freezer. And he and 3 other brothers had testicles as big or bigger then their hearts. The one possible father was killed for aggression.

Is it super abnormal for them to be maturing so early? Just high strong hormones? Should i worry or just count myself lucky? My males have been going after all 5 girls.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

21 weeks is fairly common for onset of lay this time of year.

 

[ashlierami]

Ok so i hatched some backyard mix chicks on January 12th. I got super lucky and had 5 of 12 females. My roo and cockerel had been showing interest for the last couple weeks but i figured it was "hornyness" because I had 24 hens going into winter and am down to 14 plus the 5 hatched pullets.

Well i just collected a "pullet" sized egg! Could they really be coming into adolescence so early? They are only 21 weeks. One of their brothers started crowing at 14 weeks before he was sent to camp freezer. And he and 3 other brothers had testicles as big or bigger then their hearts. The one possible father was killed for aggression.

Is it super abnormal for them to be maturing so early? Just high strong hormones? Should i worry or just count myself lucky? My males have been going after all 5 girls.

It's quite normal. My first broody hen was 6 months old when she had her first chick. I'd say this is normal she started laying at around 5 months as well.

 

[RWise]

Mine have started as soon as 4 months old, or wait as long as 1 YO to start laying. Even sisters from the same hen roo combo.