First time hens lay eggs

[Woody03]

Ok......my Orphingtons are 11 weeks old now and they are starting to sing a lot. I'm taking this as a sign they are getting ready to molt soon? They do molt first and then lay their eggs, right? I had to block off their nesting boxes as they were going in there during the day and sleeping.......when should I remove the barrier and put hay in there? I have heard that I should put in a few golf balls so they know what's suppose to go there.....is that right too?

 

[chicmom]

Hello!

My Orps took at least 20 weeks to begin laying. I've had other breeds, like the golden buff hybrid, lay as early as 17 weeks, but the Orps, being a larger breed, took longer. Chickens have several "mini molts" is what I call them as they grow up and mature, so you will see alot of feathers and that's pretty normal. I never heard anyone say they will molt, then lay though.

One of the things I've noticed as the pullets get closer to laying age, is that they will squat when you reach out for them. This is a sign of maturity. They are being submissive to you, as if you are their rooster. I just pet them on the back when they do that. Once you see that squatting, and it's very distinctive, you can then unblock their nesting boxes, and switch them over to laying feed if you like, or just use up your starter/grower feed, then switch to they layer feed.

Hope this helps!
Sharon

 

[PSJ]

Sharon is right about the squatting. And no, they dont have to molt before they lay... Most don't molt the first year any way

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

Our Buff Orpington is about 18 weeks... I think we still have a few weeks to wait though. Patience! We experienced the same squating about a week or two before we got our first eggs and that's when we opened up the nest box.