There isn't a single Ameraucana in that group.. look like black Australorp and Buff Orpington.
Lay hormone is light related.. chickens hatched early in the year as light is increasing and high in the sky will lay younger than those maturing in the fall. No matter what the guidelines say... chickens lay when they're good and ready.. my Leghorn that was said to start around 16 weeks was easily 22 weeks before starting. I have had some ladies all same breed and same hatch date.. some start laying over a month sooner than others. Or worse some starts laying more than a month later.
24 weeks with daylight reducing daily.. just watch for hidden nest.. and when one lady goes randomly missing she will be gone laying her egg.
Yes, you shoulod be getting close. Some of mine started squatting over a month before laying and some have never ever squatted.
I personally would NOT be using layer feed.. but prefer flock raiser for dual purpose birds like yours and oyster shell on the side for active layers.
Waiting is SO hard especially when you know you are this close!
