At what age did your chickens lay?

[Dovethesilkie]

I had a Silkie that didn’t lay until she was 10 months

 

[Outta Here]

Orpingtons: 6-7 months
Rhode island reds: 6-8 months
I have some of the other ones but their not laying yet.

My Rhode Island Reds started laying at 19 weeks. If you inaccurately count 4 weeks to a month (inaccurate because many months, like Jan1 to July 1, are 26 weeks), they started laying at 4¾ months old.

 

[Outta Here]

They all cuddled on top of each other last night in a nesting box .

Well, that settles that--they've shown that they will shun the roost to crowd into the nest boxes! That's actually a good sign that they are familiar with and like the boxes. Pretty soon and you'll be getting eggs!
After letting them have their fun in the boxes for awhile, I'd clean them out thoroughly and start locking them up at night. Gotta be fresh and clean for your first egg!

 

[Katanahamon]

I shut mine at night simply because I don't want to have to clean the poop out every morning to keep my eggs clean.
If the nest boxes are lower than the roost, maybe none of your chickens would be interested in sleeping in them and you could leave them open.

Well wishes on your first exciting egg! Those dark eggs are sooo pretty....

Really? I kept mine boarded up for 17 weeks, opened them last week, put ceramic brown eggs in each one, with curtains made from Japanese furoshiki or tenugui material. So far they haven’t pooped in them at all..

 

[Katanahamon]

I want to steal your whiting true blues and Easter Egger!!!! They are gorgeous!

They are both lovely and sweet..in another thread, a gentleman said they lay eggs like mad..looking forward to the blue eggs! I was so happy to see two lavender gray or smoke colored birds in my order..just thrilled..she started out solid, has been getting red brown accents..

 

[Outta Here]

Really? I kept mine boarded up for 17 weeks, opened them last week, put ceramic brown eggs in each one, with curtains made from Japanese furoshiki or tenugui material. So far they haven’t pooped in them at all..

I find they only poop in them if they sleep overnight in them. Mine stay open from 4am to 7pm and my three layers have never pooped in them yet. Another reason I leave my nest boxes open for weeks before they lay. besides familiarity, is that I like to allow the wooden eggs to teach the chicks that pecking eggs doesn't work or feel good.
Pretty curtains! Did you see my calico ones earlier in this post?

 

[Katanahamon]

I find they only poop in them if they sleep overnight in them. Mine stay open from 4am to 7pm and my three layers have never pooped in them yet. Another reason I leave my nest boxes open for weeks before they lay. besides familiarity, is that I like to allow the wooden eggs to teach the chicks that pecking eggs doesn't work or feel good.
Pretty curtains! Did you see my calico ones earlier in this post?

Yes..that’s why I got ceramic brown eggs..I hope they peck a few times and give up on that idea. Mine haven’t shown any interest in the boxes yet..I hope they don’t decide to lay underneath the coop, they love hanging out there in the cool shade..no, didnt see your curtains, I’ll go look..

 

[Happy hen lover]

Yes, thanks! 17 weeks old this Thursday, or so. I’m sorry if these get posted upside down, I don’t know why that’s happening..

LOVE THE PHOTOS

 

[Katanahamon]

Yes, thanks! 17 weeks old this Thursday, or so. I’m sorry if these get posted upside down, I don’t know why that’s happening..

I figured out if you select picture downsizing before posting, they go upside down, just select your pics and post, the site will automatically downsize them for you..

 

[Outta Here]

Yes..that’s why I got ceramic brown eggs..I hope they peck a few times and give up on that idea. Mine haven’t shown any interest in the boxes yet..I hope they don’t decide to lay underneath the coop, they love hanging out there in the cool shade..no, didnt see your curtains, I’ll go look..