Eggs, this early?

[Justicedog]

I've got old girls and also 14 week old chicks. I've got my coop split, but they can all roam freely in the backyard during the day. I'd seen an egg in a nesting box on the young ens' side - though it is possible for the old girls to crawl through the tops of the nesting boxes or come in on the little's door. I just found an egg on the side of my yard - typically where the littles hang out, but the older ones could go there, though I have no idea why they would pick there to lay an egg. Is it possible one of the young en's laid it? I'd say no, wasn't expecting the possibility of an egg for another month. The young ones I've got are a lavendar marans, a splash orpington, a white leghorn and a cream legbar. The egg is a light brown egg.

 

[The Coop Crew]

How big is the egg? If it’s from a 14 week old pullet it will be pretty small.

 

[Justicedog]

 

[Justicedog]

 

[Justicedog]

It seems to be a medium sized egg. None of the little ones squat and all act like I'm an axe murderer and get away from me as best they can. Though only one of my 5 older hens will squat. I think it must be a rogue older chicken but it just doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Logar]

It sounds like one of your older ones laid it. It is VERY unlikely that a 14 week old would lay an egg.

What breeds are your older girls?

 

[Justicedog]

It sounds like one of your older ones laid it. It is VERY unlikely that a 14 week old would lay an egg.

What breeds are your older girls?

An americana (though she lays tan eggs), a french black copper marans (dark brown), Lavender orp., partridge rock, blue rock (though I think she's an imposter). Other than the french black copper marans, I've not really been certain which egg each chicken lays.

 

[red horse ranch]

My guess would be one of the Rock hens. My Partridge Rock always laid medium size tan eggs. The other breeds of your older hens usually lay pretty large eggs once they mature.
I agree that the egg is unlikely to come from a 14 week old pullet.

 

[MountainWoman73]

An americana (though she lays tan eggs), a french black copper marans (dark brown), Lavender orp., partridge rock, blue rock (though I think she's an imposter). Other than the french black copper marans, I've not really been certain which egg each chicken lays.

My guess is the Americana EE. Because they lay in stupid places. I have one named Grey Lady who has laid eggs inside a plastic bag of wood shavings, and in the feed bin.

 

[FrostRanger]

My guess is the Americana EE. Because they lay in stupid places. I have one named Grey Lady who has laid eggs inside a plastic bag of wood shavings, and in the feed bin.

That is just an individual thing, not a breed thing I have several ameraucana based EEs and all of them lay where they're supposed to. You can encourage her to lay by putting fake eggs in your nest boxes

As for who's laying that egg, the only way to know for sure is to stake out the nest boxes and catch the hen in the act, but I also doubt it's one of the 14 week olds. I will say it's probably not the marans hen though as the color is too light