At what age to chickens start laying?

[farmgirl02]

Hi there!
I was just wondering if anyone knew at what age chickens start laying?

Thanks,
farmgirl

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Typically, chickens will lay around 6 months of age. Mine have started at 5 and 5 1/2 months, and I have heard of hens who lay a few weeks later. Generally, though, 6 months is the laying age.

 

[LilRedRoo]

+1 - I've had hens start laying anywhere from 22 weeks to 28 weeks.

 

[kkenny24]

I have a barred rock who is 9 months old and still has not laid an egg. Any suggestions to maybe what's going on?

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Are they free range?

 

[kkenny24]

Yes.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

I have heard of people finding the eggs under hay bales, inn bushes, and even tractors. They might be hiding them.

 

[kkenny24]

My husband has looked around and hasn't seen anything, but I guess we will look harder! any other suggestions? We have recently changed over to a heated water bowl since it is winter. Didn't know if there were any other ideas like that?

 

[coop-er]

My husband has looked around and hasn't seen anything, but I guess we will look harder! any other suggestions? We have recently changed over to a heated water bowl since it is winter. Didn't know if there were any other ideas like that?

Where do you live? My chickens were all laying well, but it has been 3-4 weeks since I have seen an egg. With the winter being so bad, my theory is- they are using their resources to survive (we have had alot of below zero temps minus double digit wind chills) and once the temps are better and there is more daylight, their egg-laying will be back on track. I know alot of folks use artificial light etc.. To keep their hens laying, I prefer to defer to Mother Nature. They will begin to lay again when they are able to. I feed them well and keep them healthy and they are wonderful layers everyday that they are able to be! Good luck!

 

[PugetCountry]

Our chicks were hatched in early May and early June. I got my first egg the first week of January. My second hen started last week. So out of 14 hens we're at 34 weeks for first egg and as the others start laying they will be older than that.

Reading on here last summer I was prepared by 18 weeks to start seeing eggs because of other's early layers. Not the case here.

We live in WA so the winters are very limited with light. But after not using any artificial light and kind of giving up on any winter eggs I do believe that they will lay when they lay. I have 2 laying and 3 more squatting out of the 14 so everyday will get closer to more eggs!