Another when will they lay? thread 😳

[NotNHChicken]

Good evening,

We have 10 BA pullets. 24-25 weeks old (born 5-25-20). Layer feed (since 18w) with free choice oyster shell. Not free range. Healthy. Spoiled, no stress. Plenty of coop and run space. 5 of 10 have all signs of POL - squat, large combs, 2 finger spacing in pelvic area. I will attached a few pictures.

Like every first timer, very excited for our first eggs. We thought BA would start around 18 weeks. Trying to be patient but also want to make sure we are doing everything we can for them. Any advice? What have I left out that would be helpful?

(I have read dozens of threads on POL and resisted posting for several weeks, but can't take it anymore )

Thanks in advance!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I’m not an expert on this breed. I too thought they were early layers but around 20-24 weeks old is when I thought they laid their first egg.

 

[aart]

Feeding layer early and the shortening days are going to delay onset of lay.
But....they are closer than they've ever been!

 

[2hotchicks]

Good evening,

We have 10 BA pullets. 24-25 weeks old (born 5-25-20). Layer feed (since 18w) with free choice oyster shell. Not free range. Healthy. Spoiled, no stress. Plenty of coop and run space. 5 of 10 have all signs of POL - squat, large combs, 2 finger spacing in pelvic area. I will attached a few pictures.

Like every first timer, very excited for our first eggs. We thought BA would start around 18 weeks. Trying to be patient but also want to make sure we are doing everything we can for them. Any advice? What have I left out that would be helpful?

(I have read dozens of threads on POL and resisted posting for several weeks, but can't take it anymore )

Thanks in advance!

Mine started the squatting a few weeks before I got my first egg. Sounds like they are very close!

 

[BigLar368]

We feel your pain. We have 15 chickens starting their 23rd week today. We received them on June 8th. We also have 4 Welsh Harlequin ducks same age and 4 Easter eggers that are 4 weeks younger. One of the Gold sex links or Golden Comet's chickens (I can't tell them apart) has been laying a fairly small egg (45 grams) since week 18. She has only missed two days in the last 4 weeks without laying an egg so she is laying almost everyday. Several of the other chickens are showing signs. I know many of them have been sitting in the nesting boxes as there are all types of feathers in the boxes. We don't even have harsh winters here. The weather has yet to get below 48 degrees. We have had to use the house AC for the past week..lol. They free range all day in our moderately sized back yard. They get cooked rice and peas as a treat late in the afternoon and some scratch corn when we shut them up for the night. I feel like we are hosting a chicken free loader event in our back yard...LOL. Seriously though we know how ya feel. I am sure when all ours start laying we will be complaining about having too many eggs. To the OP good luck and hang in there.

 

[2hotchicks]

We feel your pain. We have 15 chickens starting their 23rd week today. We received them on June 8th. We also have 4 Welsh Harlequin ducks same age and 4 Easter eggers that are 4 weeks younger. One of the Gold sex links or Golden Comet's chickens (I can't tell them apart) has been laying a fairly small egg (45 grams) since week 18. She has only missed two days in the last 4 weeks without laying an egg so she is laying almost everyday. Several of the other chickens are showing signs. I know many of them have been sitting in the nesting boxes as there are all types of feathers in the boxes. We don't even have harsh winters here. The weather has yet to get below 48 degrees. We have had to use the house AC for the past week..lol. They free range all day in our moderately sized back yard. They get cooked rice and peas as a treat late in the afternoon and some scratch corn when we shut them up for the night. I feel like we are hosting a chicken free loader event in our back yard...LOL. Seriously though we know how ya feel. I am sure when all ours start laying we will be complaining about having too many eggs. To the OP good luck and hang in there.

Lol, sounds familiar. I would complain to my 2 gals that all they did was eat. They finally started repaying me

 

[NotNHChicken]

Aart,

Feeding layer early and the shortening days are going to delay onset of lay.
But....they are closer than they've ever been!

Should I return them grower feed or is that too late? As I understand it, with less protein in layer feed means a slower maturation rate.

I am familiar with the debate here about whether or not layer is appropriate.

Thanks for the quick reassurance and points. I thought the time of day would be a factor. Just surprised all of them have not yet laid.

 

[aart]

Should I return them grower feed or is that too late?

Never too late for them to have more nutrition....but no sense in tossing a good bag of feed.
...or holding onto it. Always check the milling date on feed so its' fresh.
Might get a small bag of grower/starter to mix in with the layer.

I've never fed layer feed, always used 20% all flock type feed because I've always had a mixed age and gender flock, with OS on the side for the active layers.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Be patient, Grasshopper. The egg will come.
sounds to me like pretty soon.

 

[NotNHChicken]

Never too late for them to have more nutrition....but no sense in tossing a good bag of feed.
...or holding onto it. Always check the milling date on feed so its' fresh.
Might get a small bag of grower/starter to mix in with the layer.

I've never fed layer feed, always used 20% all flock type feed because I've always had a mixed age and gender flock, with OS on the side for the active layers.

Good to know. I need to buy more feed in the next week. Grower feed will be the next one.

Since they are all the same age and sex, it seemed ok to me. However, still learning and adjusting.