Americauna eggs

[cbourbeau32]

I have four Americauna hens that should start laying any day now. I have a couple of questions:

1) They were 26 weeks old yesterday. About how long before I should start expecting eggs?
2) Will the eggs start off blue or will they change over time?

Thanks for any replies.

Charlie

 

[Welshies]

First off.... are they Americauna or Ameraucana? Americaunas are actually Easter Eggers, which can lay any color of egg. Green, blue, olive, brown, white- because they are a mixed breed, a developed mutt.
Ameraucanas, on the other hand, are a true breed, which carry a blue egg gene... so they'll lay blue eggs.
Hens can only lay one color of egg. Egg color is genetic, so one hen will lay one color and stick to that color.
Your chickens have very delayed development. Chickens start laying at 16 or 18 weeks, usually. What are you feeding them?

 

[Lordfeint]

Keep in mind that from Spring to Winter, the eggs will get progressively lighter in shade too. A friend with a pair of EEs stop laying for a month and a half around mid-Jan through 1st of March, and when they start laying again the eggs are a nice mint green, by October, they're almost white with a pale chalky green tint.

 

[Hamiam]

I think I've read that 22-26 weeks is the normal laying age. However, if you live in a cold weather area (you can add your location to your profile & it will show under your avatar when you post), it might take longer. I've got some freeloaders myself!

 

[PirateGirl]

If you are in The northern hemisphere your days are getting longer so your chances of your girls laying are getting better. Once they start squatting for you, you can expect eggs within 2 weeks. If they are pure Ameraucanas the eggs will be blue from day 1.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Chickens CAN start laying at 16-18 weeks old but many take longer to develop. Typically 22+ weeks.

Something to take into consideration is daylight hours. A minimum of 12 hours is needed for egg laying. Hopefully you’ll have some pretty eggs soon!

 

[cbourbeau32]

Thanks everyone. I think now I was mistaken, I went back an looked at my order and I ordered Easter Eggers. I have 4 of them. Surely at least a couple will lay colored eggs.

 

[Welshies]

Thanks everyone. I think now I was mistaken, I went back an looked at my order and I ordered Easter Eggers. I have 4 of them. Surely at least a couple will lay colored eggs.

They likely will.

 

[cbourbeau32]

Update! We have at least one laying as of last Wednesday we started getting green eggs and have gotten four so far as of today! Not sure if other three have started laying or not. Hopefully at least one more will lay colored eggs.

 

[cbourbeau32]

Update! We have at least two of the four Easter Eggers laying green eggs! I'm not sure if the rest are laying yet or not. The kids are so excited!