Any bets as to when my hens'll start laying?

[sevenbabychicks]

Hey all,

So my chickens hatched on 8/31, which makes them about a week short of 5 months old. In the past few weeks, most of the hens' wattles and combs have really reddened up, and the rooster has started jumping on them (it was super funny when he first started; he'd fall off almost immediately and looked really confused!). A few days ago, a couple of the hens started doing their "mating crouch" when I reached down to pet them.

Can I use this behavior to narrow down when to expect that lovely first egg? When do you think they'll start laying? It'd be fun to get some guesses going!

Oh, and it case it matters, their breeds are: Jersey giant, salmon faverolle, lakenvelder, andalusian, easter egger, and my little mystery hen (probably an EE/splash rosecomb bantam cross).

Thanks!

 

[<3ChickenForever]

They should start laying very soon! Mine took about 6 months for them to lay. And can you take pics of the combs??

 

[PepsNick]

The maximum time that I have heard of them beginning to lay after the first "mating crouch" as you call it is two weeks. Mine started a few days after. You should have eggs very, very soon.

By the way, most people call the mating crouch "squating".

edited for typos

 

[sevenbabychicks]

Yay!! Can't wait! I honestly thought they wouldn't start until after month 6 because we live so far up north with relatively little winter light, but all that squatting (ha, I knew there was a better word than "mating crouch") is giving me hope for an early egg. Fingers crossed, and thanks for the feedback!

 

[sheaviance1]

My EE squatted yesterday, got her first mint green egg today

The other ladies, it was about two weeks after the squatting started.

 

[alhanse77]

My BO started laying around 19 weeks and my BPR not too long after. My EEs started laying around 40 weeks. It seemed to take forever! To each her own!

 

[sevenbabychicks]

AAAAAAAAA! I found an egg today!!

So. Excited! They aren't even 6 months old yet!! And their coop doesn't have artificial lighting - just a window and mirrors. I feel so lucky!

It's brown and larger than I expected. Jersey Giant? I worry it's from my EE.... was hoping for a green egg from her!

Yay!!