buff orpingtons

[Gonzo]

About what age will buff orp's begin to lay?

 

[davimi]

wandering same thing.....i thought it was 6 months

 

[musson]

I have 1 that is 22 weeks. She is just about to lay - I imagine in another week or 2. She has just started to "assume the position" when I put my hand over her back.

 

[DianeB]

Ha!!! My sister calls me Gonzo

Mention one time that I want to train my chickens to do tricks and you are labled for life. I take it as a complement. I am not quite sure about Buffs. My Red Stars/Gold Stars did not start laying until 20 weeks. But, it was early summer and there was more than 14 hours of light a day.

From what I understand, hens will wait to lay if they come into maturity during Fall/Winter. Something about there needing to be 14 hours of light. I am not sure if this is the case for Buffs.

I thought my hybrids would not start slowing down during the winter, but they have been skipping a few days lately. So your hens might not start until Spring or late Winter. Or at the very least they will me older then 20 weeks.

Maybe, a few of our experts have more info for you.
DB

 

[AmyRey]

Mine have started laying at 23, 26 and 27 weeks. I still have one (28 weeks tomorrow) that's not laying yet.

 

[hinkjc]

Laying ability of buff orps tends to vary based on production strain versus better quality bred birds. Production strains can lay in 5-6 months, while others can take much longer. All birds mature at their own rate, so it's tough to put a date on a group of birds.

I find that if my hens come into lay in the fall, they lay their first winter. Orpingtons do tend to be better winter layers unless they have a late fall moult, which shuts down the cycle.