Egg laying Poll ( please check out!!!)

[Ecatocsc]

Mine are speckled Sussex

 

[Angelfishie]

Easter Egger

 

[Squeaky-Chicken-Mom]

This was difficult because my first hen to lay (red star) was 20 weeks, but my other three matured in the winter so started/will start when the daylight comes back this spring, so I chose the last option. My only other laying currently (an Australorp) started a few days ago, at 35 weeks, which honestly I thought would be later since it's still winter here. As for my other two, my black star looks physically mature with crest and all but hasn't started but my Rhode Island red still looks like a young pullet with an undeveloped crest. Not sure what that means, since she's supposed to be old enough by now. (She was the smallest when I bought them--they were all 14 weeks then.)

 

[Patrick10]

Hi everyone! I've created a poll on when your pullets first come into lay. Thanks for clicking on it and please enter!!! I will be posting results in 20 days so please come back then and check to see results Now one more thing before you begin: after you post your answer you MUST comment and say what breed of chicken it was. Ready? Let's begin!

Hi everyone! I've created a poll on when your pullets first come into lay. Thanks for clicking on it and please enter!!! I will be posting results in 20 days so please come back then and check to see results Now one more thing before you begin: after you post your answer you MUST comment and say what breed of chicken it was. Ready? Let's begin!

Barred Rock early, like 16ish weeks, but several Brahma and light Sussex crosses and rhode island red were more 22-24 weeks

 

[Rose Quartz]

Barred rock, though I would have liked to select more than one option. The hen that started laying at 21 weeks was before winter hit. The others took a bit longer just starting to lay now around 23 weeks, but we have 2 feet of snow.

 

[GrandmaD]

I’ve had Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Buff Orpington. They all begin laying at right about the six month mark. (22-24 weeks)

 

[RedLionChooks]

We have a mixed flock - 3 red stars, 3 black stars, 3 RIRs, and 1 Black Australorp. They all joined us as chicks April 23, 19. The first to lay was a red star, at 16 weeks. The last pullet in the flock laid her first egg at 20 weeks. In sum, all 10 pullets laid first eggs within 20 weeks. They were fed Scratch and Peck from day one, consume all organic fruit and veg and compost, and free range from 2-8 hours / day, depending on season.

As a new chicken keeper, I was not expecting eggs for at least 24 weeks. I spent a lot of time with them at that time, because they were just getting used to ranging around. I was so fascinated with watching them, and noticed this red star acting very different, like she was searching and desperate. I realized she was looking for a place to lay her first egg. I had covered the next boxes with burlap, and had to run to my shop to grab pliers to remove the tacks and open up one of the boxes, so that sweet little pullet had a place to lay. As I opened up the 'curtain' and held it for her, I swear, she looked at me, looked in the box, stepped in, and laid her little egg. It was such a cool experience! She was so proud, and the whole flock was involved -- especially the rooster.

That was back in August. I noticed the rooster became less and less involved, and now, he does not enter the hen house at all. I am still so fascinated with the egg laying experience. It amazes me every day. Sometimes I feel so bad removing their only purpose in this life to serve myself. But I have never felt so good about food I consume save for food coming from our garden.

Raising these little chickens has brought more satisfaction than I ever imagined. It has also brought more responsibility and time than I was prepared for. It has brought me closer to the natural order of things, and the flock teaches me more than I could have known. I love my little chickens! Thanks for starting the poll - so interesting to hear different experiences.

 

[Vicker]

My current flock started later than any other flock I've had. The Buff O's, Red Sex Links and Barred Rocks were about 24 wks. I have a breed called Ideal something (there's a number in the name) that was supposed to be an early layer. They laid at about 22 wks. All my other past flocks with various varieties (Buff, Red, Dominique, Wyandotte) started at 16-18 wks. Ameracuanas have been later at around 22-24.

It just occurred to me that the earlier laying hens produced much smaller eggs for the first couple of weeks than those that started later.

 

[Rockdale Chick]

My first egg was at 21 weeks laid by my black sex-linked. The 2nd egg was laid at 23 weeks by my production blue and the 3rd layer was my Delaware at 30 weeks. I only brooded 3 chicks this past year. Hope that helps.

 

[TwoCrows]

The Orps all started laying between 24 to 26 weeks, the Barred Rocks started laying around 20 to 22 weeks of age.