Egg laying without a rooster?

[scanan]

I've read online that chickens will lay eggs without roosters. Is that breed specific?

We bought 8 chickens in November, 3 white leghorns and 5 rhode island reds (i think). The whites started laying last week with 2 white eggs every other day. One of my wifes cousins has chickens too and says the reds need a rooster to lay. Also, do eggs fertilized by a rooster taste different than one not fertilized?

 

[junebuggena]

Hens do not need a rooster around to ovulate. It is not breed specific. Your wife's cousin is misinformed. Rhode Island Reds typically take a bit longer to mature than Leghorns.

 

[bobbi-j]

Agree with Junebuggenna - no hen needs a rooster to lay. Also, fertilized eggs look and taste no different than eggs that are not fertilized.

 

[ShrekDawg]

What junebuggena said. Not breed specific. All chickens lay without a rooster.

Most chickens start laying somewhere between 18-24 weeks of age with some laying as early as 16 or 17 weeks and some laying as late as 32 or 34 weeks. Majority of chickens won't lay that late, mostly the heritage and/or show quality ones. Most chickens from hatcheries lay in the average range. Reds are usually on the later end of that range (24ish weeks) with some sooner and some later

 

[scanan]

Thanks for the info.