Easter eggers and Olive eggers?

[Bonniebooboo]

Ok I heard that Easter and Olive eggers start laying around 7 months. But at about 20 weeks this is what I'm getting. And they all started the same week. I'm guessing the green eggs are from the Olive egger and Easter egger. I'm also surprised at how close the Easter egger colors are like the Olive eggers but no complaints. I'm confused at why they are already laying.View attachment 1180146

OOOOH. NICE colorful basket...Some pullets do start later, many EE's start around 4 1/2 , to 5 Mo old. BE HAPPY! Your girls are doing great.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

20 to 25 weeks is average for my Easter Eggers, if kept on a higher protein diet till onset of lay and not switched to layer prematurely. The customers who purchase my chicks and switch them to layer feed at 18 to 20 weeks report that it takes 28 to 35 weeks for them to start laying. That protein content is crucial.

Interesting observation. Note when you say "higher protein" are you talking 20% range or 30% range? Anything above 28% long term would be considered detrimental in my opinion.

Couple years back I raised my barred rocks on gamebird feed (28%) protein. I STILL had the same variance with laying... one started at 20 weeks and the other not until 24. With 1 right in the middle at 22.

Now ALL my birds get 20% protein plus pasture and I still get variance. But I'm OK with them doing whatever their body says it's ready to do. Anybody who starts laying particularly late, say older than 30 weeks, will likely be eliminated from my breeding stock very quickly. Though... their eggs might be a little larger at onset of lay than the girls who lay sooner...

I agree that protein is crucial and could certainly have an effect. When the girls start laying they aren't nearly done growing. Seeing the difference in my older hens verses first year layers is like a woman verses a teenager. But "higher" protein has NOT given me an "early layer" effect.

 

[junebuggena]

Interesting observation. Note when you say "higher protein" are you talking 20% range or 30% range? Anything above 28% long term would be considered detrimental in my opinion.

Couple years back I raised my barred rocks on gamebird feed (28%) protein. I STILL had the same variance with laying... one started at 20 weeks and the other not until 24. With 1 right in the middle at 22.

Now ALL my birds get 20% protein plus pasture and I still get variance. But I'm OK with them doing whatever their body says it's ready to do. Anybody who starts laying particularly late, say older than 30 weeks, will likely be eliminated from my breeding stock very quickly. Though... their eggs might be a little larger at onset of lay than the girls who lay sooner...

I agree that protein is crucial and could certainly have an effect. When the girls start laying they aren't nearly done growing. Seeing the difference in my older hens verses first year layers is like a woman verses a teenager. But "higher" protein has NOT given me an "early layer" effect.

18 to 20 percent. Can't get anything higher than that around here. This is when compared with the results of feeding 15 to 16 percent. I line breed pretty closely, so it takes a lot of the genetic variability out of the equation.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

18 to 20 percent. Can't get anything higher than that around here. This is when compared with the results of feeding 15 to 16 percent. I line breed pretty closely, so it takes a lot of the genetic variability out of the equation.

Ah... yes, I will be working on line breeding also. My current reported results were with hatchery birds.

 

[Mamabear1369]

20 to 25 weeks is average for my Easter Eggers, if kept on a higher protein diet till onset of lay and not switched to layer prematurely. The customers who purchase my chicks and switch them to layer feed at 18 to 20 weeks report that it takes 28 to 35 weeks for them to start laying. That protein content is crucial.

I have OEs and EEs that are almost 20 wks now. I still have them on starter feed but was about to switch them. Should I continue with the starter feed? I'm new this is my first flock. I definitely don't want to offset and wait longer. I've been doing mealworms and greens also.