Can I expect eggs soon from the rest of my older hens?

[chickmomma03]

My older pullets are 4mos 3 weeks old (19wks). My leghorn Ghost is already laying. I have 1 Buff Orpington, 2 Golden Sex Links, 2 Black Cochins. I put more nesting boxes in but they really don't seem overly interested in them. Orpi, my buff, her comb and wattles are a deeper pinkish red now rather than light pink, the color on my other girls is getting darker too, but still a little lighter pink than reddish. My rooster seems to have the most interest in mounting Ghost and Orpi, not sure if that tells anything or not. If you have any of these breeds about how old were yours before they started laying? I am trying to just be patient, but it's not so easy lol

I know my younger chicks (EE) probably still have a while before they start since they're only 3 1/2mos.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your sex link should start soon, Orpingtons usually around 5 months, and cochins usually 6-7 months.

 

[chickmomma03]

kewl thanks. I'm going to keep an eye out then for some pretty brown eggs I know every hen is different, but that at least gives me a better idea of how far off and I can relax a little instead of being so anxious lol

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Which is funny because I'm sick of getting so many eggs, and wish they would slow down.

 

[chickmomma03]

I have a few customers and a neighbor in line for eggs once they really start, so I have my bases covered for the extras (hopefully). I'm obviously going to be making sure we're stocked first with a dozen, anything over my dozen will go. I use eggs for baking/recipes, but we aren't big egg eaters otherwise here. I think a dozen lasts me 2-3 weeks minimum (I was buying 1 to MAYBE 2 times a month at the store, usually just once though)!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have like 35-40 hens, large and Bantam, I use like a dozen or less a month, I just like chickens, people who I give them to run from me sometimes, I make them take too many.

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: haha! Ever since I was a kid I wanted to have a farm, chickens, cows, goats, etc. I don't have a big enough property or the right setup to have everything I want (though I have TRIED to coax for a goat for years), so I'm happy to have my chickens and my dog. I hope some day to have more of a small farm though.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sorry I have 40 acres and a bunch of critters, I am living your dream, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, donkeys, and dogs.

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: That's awesome. My grandma and grandpa had a farm on 50 acres of land with a house, 2nd small house at the front of the property (I lived in it as an infant for a while), and then silos, equipment shed, pig barn, cow barn, chicken barn, etc. I loved it, and I miss it. I've always wanted to have one, but for now I have to settle for the little over an acre of land. I technically probably could get a goat and a pig and ducks or something like that, but I'd have to clear out woods to do it since a portion of the back is wooded. I just remember feeling so free at my grandma's farm, and I learned a lot.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

See funny again, my grandparents lived in Chicago, I loved leaving the farm for a week to stay in the big city, without chores.