Aracaunas - WHEN do they start laying???!!

[Armageddon]

Sheesh...i have a whole bunch of chickens now...I dont even know anymore how many there are....I really wanted some BLUE eggs, So I specially ordered some blue-egg laying aracaunas.....they are 27 weeks old and still not laying?? of the breeds I have NONE have ever taken this long to lay.....I got some marans (LOVE those) EE's and delawares at the same time (different source) and they are all laying....

 

[Titania]

well, I by no means have experience in this...I'm sure you'll get someone who knows more to post a reply, but I'd heard that most hens start laying around 18 weeks (4 1/2 months) and that Araucanas, Ameraucanas, and Easter Eggers start laying around 7 months, nearly four months later.

Now, we all know that hens don't usually start laying at 18 weeks. I have a gorgeous wyandotte, Rosie, who is 25 (or 6 1/2 months) old walking around like she has no idea what an egg is. So, knowing that hens can lay up to a few months later than the suggested time, I'd say maybe around 8 or 9 months before blue egg layers start laying?

good luck!!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Seems like they start right before they are too old to lay anymore

I got about 7 eggs from the ones I had, and then I had to get rid of them

None of the babies hatched either

 

[outlawfarmer]

mine took about 3 months longer than others, but now regularly lay

 

[Lesa]

I read all about how they took longer to lay, and didn't lay very regularly....I got 5 anyway. They took about a month longer than my others, and I have consistently had 4-5 eggs a day. Well worth the wait!

 

[Armageddon]

Oh dear...I ordered a dozen straight run and about 5 turned out to roo's....they are ALSO not crowing "correctly" yet...my son asked me the other day "What was that?!?!?" AND they are doing ALL the time...

I've kept them because I was hoping to have some blue egg laying chicks....

 

[Titania]

good for you for taking the leap! I would! They are beautiful birds and they lay beautiful eggs. From what I've read, once they start laying, they are dependable layers of large eggs. Good things come to those that wait?

 

[lsv313]

I had one lay at 25 weeks and the other lay at 42! I had just about given up on the 42 weeker, but now they both lay a big, beautiful colored egg almost every day. Be patient - it will be worth the wait when it finally happens!

 

[alhanse77]

I have two EEs that both started laying around 40 weeks. It seemed to take forever! They are both regular layers now!

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Mine started laying around 9 months!