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I have to wait until 21 weeks on most of my hens, but you may have hens bred for early laying. If they don't start by then, I give them a scant tablespoon of cayenne mixed into their feed for the day to give their blood a bit of a jolt. Supposedly it doesn't hurt their mouths because they have way fewer tastebuds than humans, but I truly don't know. My hens never complained and I watched them closely to see if they noticed or if the cayenne hurt them or made them want water after just one bite of feed. But no problems. I guess I only did that once, now that I think about it. I give them all cayenne powder in their feed mix at a much lower rate now at all times throughout their life (chick, layer, broody). But, I am off the point.
You can look at their combs and wattles. If they are pink, then they still have some time before they lay. Once their combs and wattles (you know, that hanging muddle of skin under their beak) gets bright red and a little bit swollen (when compared to the pink state), then they are getting close to laying.
If you have more than two roosters in with them, then it will take longer for them lay probably because they don't have any peace and quiet and a safe feeling when too many roosters are cock-a-doodle-dooing, displaying dominance, etc., at all hours. Also, if you have a movable tractor that you move around each day, that will prolong their first egg because, again, hens need peace.
You will probably just find an egg one day. Maybe on the gound. Mine have a tendency to lay in the nests
if they see other eggs in the nest. Or a couple of golf balls. Maybe the hen thinks, "Look! A nest of eggs. They aren't cracked or squished, so this must be a safe place to lay my eggs."
I still get ground eggs during times of stress (moving new hens into the group, introducing new rooster, etc.).
Those first eggs are so egg-citing!
Yah thanks! Almost all of them (the Sex links and Australorps for sure, I can't remember on the Production Reds and Barred Rocks...I will look tomorrow) have the really red combs, we were just noticing that today. lol
Only have one rooster, and no new chickens or anything have been introduced. They are the original dozen I ordered so they have always been together. I can't wait. It's been so hot they are mostly just hanging out under their coop in the day, I've been trying to up their cold food intake to keep them cool.
* I forgot to add the ones in question are the Production Reds, Australorps, Barred Rocks and black sex links. The others are younger and in a separate coop/run. No luck blending them in yet.
