Anyone have a Buff Orpington lay at 15 weeks? I just did.

[Ryguy3684]

My first group of Buff Orpingtons didn't lay until 26 weeks. I have 3 pullets, that I hatched this winter. I found a really small egg, not fairy egg small, in the the nest yesterday. I checked the cameras, and sure enough, one of my young ones was in that nest. She's 15 weeks, 16 weeks tomorrow. I noticed that my rooster tried, and failed, to mate her this week, but didn't think much of it. Has anyone had a BO lay this early?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is rare but this is the time of year till summer solstice that hens reach sexual maturity much sooner.
What time of year did your 26week old birds start laying?

I hear anecdotes of chickens of many breeds lay as early as that.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The older birds started laying around the end of September

There's your sign.

When daylength is increasing vis a vis - hours of darkness, it is detected by the pineal gland in all animals stimulating the hormones that kick start production. By contrast, when days get shorter, it is a signal to stop production.
That's why it took your pullets so much longer to commence lay when POL came in the fall and why your current birds reaching POL kicked in so much sooner.

 

[Ryguy3684]

It is rare but this is the time of year till summer solstice that hens reach sexual maturity much sooner.
I hear anecdotes of chickens of many breeds lay as early as that.

That's interesting. I was not aware that the time of year had an effect on pullets laying. Thanks for for knowledge.

 

[Ryguy3684]

It is rare but this is the time of year till summer solstice that hens reach sexual maturity much sooner.
What time of year did your 26week old birds start laying?

I hear anecdotes of chickens of many breeds lay as early as that.

The older birds started laying around the end of September