Early egg?

[Lonesome Dough]

I remember all the basics on chicken raising but it has been 40 years, we got our first egg yesterday, only pigeon size but it was a fully formed egg. The girls are only 16 weeks, isn't that a little early?

 

[Redhead Rae]

I remember all the basics on chicken raising but it has been 40 years, we got our first egg yesterday, only pigeon size but it was a fully formed egg. The girls are only 16 weeks, isn't that a little early?

Congrats on your egg! What breeds are your girls and where did you get them from?

I'm thinking if you have an early laying breed like a production red, leghorn, or a sexlink and you got them from TSC they could have been a little older than you thought when you bought them.

 

[Lonesome Dough]

purchased at our local Big R it's like a TSC and I asked when they received them so I know within a couple days how old they are and I know enough about chickens to be confident in their age. we have 22 a mix of barred rock, white rock and RI reds.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Many production bred birds can start as early as 16 weeks

 

[Lonesome Dough]

Now the question is do I keep on feeding chick starter until 22 weeks as the bag states or start a switch over to laying mash?
I also opened up the nest boxes in case this egg laying keeps up, or is this a fluke and real production will take a while?

 

[auroaSfarm]

Now the question is do I keep on feeding chick starter until 22 weeks as the bag states or start a switch over to laying mash?
I also opened up the nest boxes in case this egg laying keeps up, or is this a fluke and real production will take a while?

I'd keep feeding chick starter till the others start laying but put mashed oyster shells in there for the laying hen.

 

[Lonesome Dough]

added a two sided bin with oyster shell and grit 4 days ago. I saw that trick here and set it up immediately, it was a great idea.

 

[April’s Zoo]

I think for most production breeds the average age is 4-5 months for them to start laying.

It’s very possible that it *is* earlier than you remember from 40 years ago, because breeders have been selecting for earlier and more productive pullets/hens. Broodiness has also been “bred out” of most production birds.

A lot depends on what breeds you got and where you got them.

Also, I’m sure you know, when a pullet starts laying, the eggs can vary in size (including double-yolked extra-large eggs & no-yolk fairy eggs) for the first little while as her body adjusts itself and gets regular. Kinda like a young girl going thru puberty.... I mostly mention it for people reading this thread later.

ETA: wow a lot of people answered while I was typing my reply....

 

[Lonesome Dough]

Puberty! that's all I need is 22 emotional teenagers.

 

[April’s Zoo]

Yup.... it *is* over faster with chickens though.... a couple months vs. a few years.