Age Hens start to lay???

[jcbydesign]

I have a buff orpington, barred rock and an ee I got from the Urban Farm Store (so obviously from a hatchery) 3rd week in September. I was wondering the approximate age they will begin to lay? Still raining hard here - so want to plan on when I will need nesting box.

I plan to build a bump out one since the inside of coop is small. Thanks a bunch.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I got some production reds at that same time and they are absolute full lay.

But.. each breed is very different. You've still some time. I'd not be concerned. Look for squatting and brightening of the combs. Those are indicators that you'll be gathering eggs with 2 to 3 weeks. Just remember, it takes them a couple weeks to get up to speed after their first attempts at little bitty eggs.

 

[blueseal]

should start laying around 5 or 6 months old. barred rock, and buff orp, not sure about easter eggers. never had them.

 

[gavinandallison]

We got our Barred Rocks as 3 day old chicks in July, and they started egg production end of December! Get 4 eggs a day regularly now, also has 2 double yolkers..

 

[cpegram]

I have 4 EE hens they started to lay.....between 19-23 weeks old........they took longer than my sexlinks

 

[ladybug99]

I have 11 Welsummers...born July 28th One of them started to lay this week....

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

My EEs took around 6 months to lay. My Buff Orps took slightly less- but still around 6 months. I don't have BR.

EEs have a reputation for SOMETIMES taking a while to start laying.

 

[akcharlie1960]

Mine (see below) started at 24 weeks and have been laying steady thru the winter since.

 

[SJchicks]

I have those same three breeds (more info and pics on my BYC page). I got them as chicks in early May and the Orpington started laying first, in October, with my EE, or Ameracauna, soon after. (So, that's a little more than 5 months.) My Plymouth Barred Rock just started laying in January. They're a great variety of breeds!