Ameraucana Laying Age?

[gaillardia]

My EE started laying at 22 weeks.

 

[bigpinkmotherhen]

You folks have been a real help in my understanding what I have and what to expect from them. Thanks much.

 

[Peke's Poultry]

I have 2 that started laying last week at 26 weeks.

 

[k p e]

I realize this is an old thread, but thanks so much for it! I just realuzed that Maddie, my Ameraucana, just started laying - a smidgen over a year old! Got me worried! I know it's terrible I didn't even know, but I'm not home all day to observe the girls as closely as I'd like, and they all WILL use the same laying box, even if it means doing so at the same time! I've been getting 2 - 3 eggs per day from my 4 girls, all different varieties but all hatched the same time... So I thought somebody must be slacking off! Of course, I hoped for pretty blue or green eggs, but I thought I'd heard somewhere Ameraucanas may also lay mauve-ish eggs? I wouldn't say I've been getting mauve eggs, but one of them lays a paler brown egg with a pinkish tint, so I figured that was Maddie's.

Until Friday when we found a gorgeous green pullet egg. Another on Saturday, and today was the first day I've gotten an egg from each!

So... It's great to hear such a wide variation is normal. I live in the Phoenix (Arizona) metropolitan area and I worry a lot about heat stress. I kind of thought this breed would deal better, worried more about the Buff Orpington. (Other 2 are Barred Rock and Rhode Island Red).

 

[k p e]

Oops, I wasn't done with my long, wordy question.

Which is, should I worry that heat stress or some other issue is at play, or just assume all's well since apparently there is a wide variation.

Also, if they start laying later, will they keep laying a bit longer? I imagine that sounds terribly greedy, but I am (by the grace of my neighbors and HOA) squeezing 4 birds in a rather small suburban lot, and I'm vegetarian so the quartet will be pets as long as they live, and I can't add more... Honestly we have trouble using all the eggs we get at the moment, but it would be nice to get a 'late bloomer' bonus when the others start to slow down ;-)

Last question (for now): would the lighter, pinkish brown eggs be from the Buff Orpington?

Thanks in advance for any insights, Kristen

 

[timontwowheels]

I bought 4 pullets at the same time back in April two RRs and two Ameraucanas. When I bought them I was told they were 3 weeks old. I have been getting eggs from on RR for almost a month and the other for about a week and a half. Still nothing from my Ameraucancas. Getting a little impatient but not worried yet.