Any bets on when they will lay?

[bawkbawkbawk]

Wondering if others agree on my predictions for my three new girls as to when they will lay:

https://polloplayer.wordpress.com/2016/06/04/and-the-egg-watch-begins/

I did some research here on BYC and it seems there is such a wide range for point of lay! I am hoping that because mine are maturing now when there is plenty of daylight that it might mean they will lay sooner rather than later?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Time of year can affect it as well as diet. Those fed a higher protein diet will often mature quicker and begin laying sooner, but sometimes too soon. I personally will start to add some scratch in the diet of my growing birds to cut the protein a bit to slow down sexual maturity and give them a chance to develop more before beginning to lay. I read a lot about hens that are eggbound but have never had a single one. So I'm never in a hurry for them to begin.

As far as when your girls will start, I've noticed they become very talkative and friendly a few days before the first egg so I always know who's about to begin. Your breeds should start around 5 months of age.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

@oldhenlikesdogs that is so interesting about "cutting" the protein percentage with scratch. I would never have thought of it. That said, my hens get plenty of scratch as they wont come in the coop unless there is some scratch "baksheesh" in the deal.

I've actually noticed how friendly two of the three have been lately so that makes sense. The third one is a BO and seems to be maturing a bit more slowly; she is still a bit shy of us whereas the Austrolorp and the RIR are acting like goodwill ambassadors these days.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your Australorp has a large enough comb and wattles to be a rooster, a full body side shot would help to make sure it isn't, but I'm leaning that way with it, otherwise that will definitely be your first to lay, RIR and Orpingtons are slower to mature so it will be hard to say on those two, but they are at least a month away by the looks of them.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Here she is from the side:


And she proved beyond all doubt this afternoon that she truly is a hen:



Can't believe she laid exactly on her five-month birthday! I thought the RIR would go first because she's the one who has been hanging around the nesting counter but @oldhenlikesdogs you called it with that super-red comb and wattle!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wow, she should be quite productive by the looks of her. Mine have always been great layers. Way to go Ava.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

I've never had an Australorp before but she has quickly become one of my favorite hens ever. She has always been calm and engaged and her feathers are so gorgeous and impossibly soft. Just a lovely bird!