Did your hens start laying later than 24 weeks? Help frustrated!

[McCoop]

I'm a newbie to raising chickens. I have two hens born in the middle of March this year and both were laying the first week of August (a California white and Orpington). The four others that are younger and now 24 weeks are not laying. Two are easter eggers, a black copper maran and rhode island red. Not one is squatting. Combs are a little redder. I just find it peculiar that nothing is happening. Even have great weather here in Southern Cal and they gobble up lay pellet and yogurt even get to spend afternoons free ranging. They go in the hen house and watch the two older lay as if they are interested yet nothing.

I know, I want to hold onto my patience and I'm having a hard time.

If your hens took longer to lay please share.

 

[kari_dawn]

I personally have noticed that every easter egger I have ever had seems to be a late layer...Im in the same boat with you...I am still waiting...my girls just turned 21 weeks though...it is so infuriating that wait!

 

[dldolan]

I have two purebred Silver Ameraucanas....32 weeks and I've decided they are sterile lawn ornaments! ARGH!!!

 

[kari_dawn]

Quote:
ha ha at least they are beautiful lawn ornaments!

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

I have 3 EE who's combs are still small & turning reddish, born mid May. If they start laying this year I will be happy, but they are not squatting & my roo is not pestering them. So they to me they are not even close.

 

[kari_dawn]

...that is a really good reason to keep a roo! At least then I would know when my pullets were about to lay!

 

[Gmasandy]

I am a newbie too. We got 5 random breed of chickens in March. 2 are Orpingtons, and the others a are just cute! Anyway, it was really close to 6 months before we got our first egg. Then it took a couple or so more weeks to really get going. We now get 4 or 5 eggs everyday.

 

[Nonny]

My three girls started between 25 and 29 weeks.

 

[ChickenLove123]

I have three hens.

White leghorn/blue orpingon cross started at 19 weeks
Black sex link started at 27 weeks
Aracauna still hasn't laid, and she'll be 28 weeks this weekend.

Sigh. The wait is soooooo long.

 

[blefky]

From this year's hatch I still have one olive egger that hasn't begun to lay - 37 weeks. Her sister just began giving me gorgeous olive eggs about a week ago. I was beginning to wonder, but it's worth the wait - I love those olive eggs!