Egg laying now?

[Bear1978]

My 6 girls are about 16 weeks old. I know they may possibly start laying within the next few weeks. My question is that with the days becoming shorter and less sunlight, will the onset of their first egg laying become delayed or altered in any way?

thanks!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Just to be safe, I would add a white light on a timer to the coop.

 

[neo71665]

My hens aint slowed down yet but I've been waiting on it esp with the cold we been having at night here lately. My garden has been taking a harder hit. if I remember right you only a bit further north than me. (I'm just below crime bluff)

There are 2 sides of the fence on lights to make birds lay. In commercial egg farms they do it but for backyard birds I don't believe in it. It's natural for birds to slack off in the winter and I don't see any need to force them to lay more.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My question is that with the days becoming shorter and less sunlight, will the onset of their first egg laying become delayed or altered in any way?

No one knows. Even if it was late spring no one would know when they would start. I've had pullets lay their first egg at 16 weeks. I've had pullets wait for nine months. I've had pullets lay their first egg the first week of December, about the shortest day of the year and I don't use any supplemental lights. They start when they start.

Some will delay starting to lay due to the length of day, some won't. I don't know which you have. Even if I knew what breed they were i would not know. It's exciting to get that first egg and frustrating to wait. Trust me, waiting nine months for the first of three pullets to lay can be frustrating.

 

[Bear1978]

Thanks everyone!