Egg Watch 2014!

[tantricdragon13]

My Black Australorps are about 18 weeks old, with beautiful combs and wattles. I've been seeing folks who have started getting eggs from 17 and 18 week old pullets, and the anticipation is killing me! I've read that the Aussies tend to mature into egg laying closer to the 19-22 week range, but I'm excited anyways!!! They're not squatting yet, so I figure that we probably still have some time yet before they lay. But I still went ahead and put the "trainer" eggs in the nest boxes.

Who else out there in BYC land is eagerly awaiting that first egg? Let's all share in the anticipation!


Here's a photo of one of the girls I took last week. Looking at this photo, it looks like Their combs have already matured more this week!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

She has a way to go. I know the wait is tough but don't expect any before 24 weeks and you won't be disappointed.
It's good to have the nests ready by this time though.

 

[tantricdragon13]

Yeah, I figure, but I'm still excited! I'll post a more recent photo later so everyone can see their progress.

 

[TESouthern]

Isnt the waiting hard? my older pullets are 16ish weeks....I feel like they should be older but I keep counting the weeks over and over hahaha...I know we have awhile to wait but I am too excited lol I cannot wait til they start laying (this is our first time raising chickens sooooo I am a bit overly excited.....it's like waiting for your baby to reach big milestone lol)

 

[tantricdragon13]

Isnt the waiting hard? my older pullets are 16ish weeks....I feel like they should be older but I keep counting the weeks over and over hahaha...I know we have awhile to wait but I am too excited lol I cannot wait til they start laying (this is our first time raising chickens sooooo I am a bit overly excited.....it's like waiting for your baby to reach big milestone lol)

lol I did the same thing when they were 13 weeks old. It just seemed that they had to be older than that! And

! It sure is a fun place! What breed of chickens are you raising? Chickens sure are fun, aren't they?

Here are some photos I took today of the girls. They definitely have progressed on their wattles and combs. Two are starting to get the red around their eyes and ear lobes too. I'm just waiting for them to turn bright red!

 

[tantricdragon13]

Also, their appetites seem to have increased. They had slowed down after their last growth spurt, but now they're chowing down like there's no tomorrow!

Think this means they are going through another growth spurt? One last go before they become hens?