Black Copper Marans laying at 13 weeks??

[Ebz5003]

I just got this bantam-sized egg from one of my 13 week old BCM's. I thought these wouldn't lay until about 22 weeks? Has anyone had this happen before?

 

[SilverBirds]

That is very early to be laying. Do you have any other laying hens, and are you positive she is 13 weeks old?

 

[Ebz5003]

No, there are no others it could be. I have 2 15 week olds but one, an EE, is already laying small blue eggs, and a Sapphire Gem, who is not yet laying. My 4 13 week old BCM girls are the only possibilities. I was shipped these girls when they were chicks, so now I'm wondering if they were maybe more than a few days old? They are already the size of my medium standard size adult hens. Two of these girls have red wattles/ combs already. I'm thinking they could be 14 weeks at most?

 

[SilverBirds]

15 weeks old is also young to be laying. Some production breeds can start laying as early as 15-16, but the standard for most breeds is 18+. I wonder if your chicks were really a few weeks old when you received them? Where did you order from? Or I guess you hit the jackpot with extremely early layers.

 

[Ebz5003]

15 weeks old is also young to be laying. Some production breeds can start laying as early as 15-16, but the standard for most breeds is 18+. I wonder if your chicks were really a few weeks old when you received them? Where did you order from? Or I guess you hit the jackpot with extremely early layers.

I wonder if they weren't older. I got them from Sadie Girl Farm in NC. I attached pictures of the chicks right after I got them. Could you tell me what you think.

 

[SilverBirds]

I wonder if they weren't older. I got them from Sadie Girl Farm in NC. I attached pictures of the chicks right after I got them. Could you tell me what you think.

They do only look about a week old at most in the picture. Guess you got lucky!

 

[SilverBirds]

What are you currently feeding? If you haven't already, I would switch them to a diet with more calcium, either layer feed or a grower/all flock with oysters on the side. I'm not sure if reproductive issues should be a concern or not but I would monitor their health in case anything happens to come up.

 

[Ebz5003]

They do only look about a week old at most in the picture. Guess you

What are you currently feeding? If you haven't already, I would switch them to a diet with more calcium, either layer feed or a grower/all flock with oysters on the side. I'm not sure if reproductive issues should be a concern or not but I would monitor their health in case anything happens to come up.

They are in a run with older chickens, and then they are let out to free range during the day. I feed Kalmbach Flock Maker and have a large bucket of oyster shell available in the run.