First eggs in winter?

[629864]

I have "teenage" Brown Leghorns and Easter Eggers all hatched on August 11. The Brown Leghorns are supposed to start laying at about 18-20 weeks. The Easter Eggers at 20-24 weeks. That would put the Leghorns laying around mid December and the Easter Eggers around mid January. Since this would be their first eggs, should I expect eggs at that age, or will they be later due to the cold winter weather?

 

[SueT]

They will likely wait till spring, when the days get longer.

 

[629864]

They will likely wait till spring, when the days get longer.

Oh, I'm so relieved! I prefer they spend their winter growing strong.

 

[629864]

It's not the cold that hinders laying, it's the short hours of daylight. (Unless you're in the southern hemisphere.) So your pullets might lay any time, but they might wait until January and the days start getting longer.

How red are their combs and wattles? If they're getting brighter red, they're getting close to laying. If they're still pink, they have a way to go.

They hardly have combs at all. The BLs have a bit, but the EEs not at all. These aren't all of the ladies, but very representative of how much of a comb the girls from each breed have.

 

[Sally PB]

It's not the cold that hinders laying, it's the short hours of daylight. (Unless you're in the southern hemisphere.) So your pullets might lay any time, but they might wait until January and the days start getting longer.

How red are their combs and wattles? If they're getting brighter red, they're getting close to laying. If they're still pink, they have a way to go.

 

[crystlln]

22 weeks, 4 days and I just got my first egg! (End of August hatch). I think it is from my barred rock based on pelvic bone separation and seeing the rooster mate her. I'm just so happy that the golf balls in the nesting box trick worked. I also have a RIR, Australorp, and Easter Egger. I think the RIR will be next.

 

[crystlln]

I'm curious if your chickens have laid yet? I have four that hatched on August 29. First chickens I've had. Barred rock, Rhode island red, Australorp, and Easter Egger.

 

[629864]

It's so funny that you posted this today...because one of my brown leghorns laid her first egg this morning. It was tiny and adorable.

 

[crystlln]

So exciting! Pullet eggs are so cute. Hopefully just a couple/few weeks for me then! I need to get a nest box out there.