Australorp beginning to lay?

[Minniechickmama]

At what age does an Australorp usually start laying? I have an 18-week old that I think may be doing so. Since all the girls in my coop are brown eggers, I can't tell by color.
Thanks for any thoughts on this.

 

[Kittymomma]

That's pretty early. One of my sex-links started at 17 weeks, but the Australorps were all much later. Which one of your girls has the reddest comb and wattles? That would be the most likely one to have started laying. In anycase, congratulations on the first egg!

 

[jeslewmazer]

I agree, look for the girl with the reddest comb and you should be able to fit 3 fingers between the pelvic bone, if only 1-2 fit I would guess that particular one is not laying. I think they are later layers. Not quite sure but is that breed supposed to mature latter? Congrats one the first egg.

 

[gsim]

That may be a tad early for an Aussie. Eggs of mine tend to be a bit lighter and just a hint of pink in their color. My sex links started at 16 weeks and the aussies came in a little later with the Rhodies. Seems the Barred Rock were last. This was all just a span of a week or two for some of all four breeds to be at point of laying. They molted in Sept and started laying in Oct at age of 16 weeks. By 18 weeks some of all 4 breeds were at it and still are going gangbusters with no special feed nor artificial light. In my case, oversized coop and gigantic run may make the difference.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I knew there was some way to check the vent but could remember.
This is Penny. I think she is beautiful. I will check her vent later and see. I thought she would be laying about the end of this month, but I will find out soon enough.
My other hens are all Dark Cornish. They are not great layers, in fact, they quit laying altogether when I got them in August. I did have one laying daily after about a month. I finally got some calf manna and tried giving them it to eat, and they started laying again. The below zero temps stopped them all again for a while, but even with the highs around zero and several below zero days, I have been getting about one egg every other day. Now I am starting to see one or two a day even with the cold, cold temps. I am impressed, and there is no extra light or anything for them, and they are in an uninsulated coop. I do let them out during the day, but they tend to stay inside out of the wind. They never cease to amaze me, and that is cool. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/40608_penny.jpg

 

[Kittymomma]

She's a beauty! My Australorps were quite a bit redder and more developed in the comb and wattles when they started to lay then she looks to be in that picture though. Let us know when you figure out who is laying for you. I think it's almost as much fun trying to figure out who is laying as it was to try to tell who the boys and girls were and what breed everybody was when they were chicks.

 

[Amethyste]

My BA started to lay at 23-24 weeks of age...they both have tremendous wattles and combs too lol My DH affectionately calls them his Emo-chicks cos of the way the combs almost hang over their eyes

 

[fiberart57]

My BA was the first of my flock of six various breeds but she didn't start until she was about 26 weeks old. They tend to be big birds and mature a bit slower. However, she's been the most consistent layer here in the cold winter months.

Mary

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
Would love to see some pictures. That one I took of Penny was just yesterday. I know she has some growing to do yet unless she is going to be on the smaller size. I love those black beauties. Then again, I am finding I have a serious addiction going on. My husband always asks if I am looking at chicken porn when I come to bed. I just can't stop myself. I will have 18 breeds once all my chicks come in this spring and summer! Am I crazy or what?

 

[Happy Chooks]

You don't check the vent. Her pubic bones will be below her vent, in the fluffy, poofy feathers between her feet and her vent.

I don't think she's laying yet, she doesn't look ready by comb/wattles. She's beautiful.