First time layers and wintertime

[Rebechenson75]

It's temperature that matters more. Snow can be fun, or lava to them. Do they have a sheltered area or run? Mine take the latter stance. Make sure their water doesn't freeze. Browse for articles about winter care. Keep an eye on your forecasts.

Yes they have a sheltered area under their coop to get out of any weather. Right now they are hanging out there to stay out of the cold wind that is blowing. We check their water regularly, fortunately we haven't had any issues with it freezing yet.

Thank you all for your time and responses. Being a first time chicken tender is like being a first time parent in sooo many ways.

 

[Dogs Cows Chicken]

I have some 19 week old pullets! I have 3 RIR, 3 EE and 1 White Polish. We are getting about 10 hours of daylight. Are any of these breeds likely to start laying in winter time? Looking forward to my first thousand dollar egg!!

One of my Wyandottes started laying one week ago. She was 19 weeks and 6 days old. No eggs from my other Wyandotte or Barred Rock. My Black Australorp isn't due for a few weeks. I think my Minorca is a Roo.

Have you gotten that thousand dollar egg, yet?

 

[Rebechenson75]

One of my Wyandottes started laying one week ago. She was 19 weeks and 6 days old. No eggs from my other Wyandotte or Barred Rock. My Black Australorp isn't due for a few weeks. I think my Minorca is a Roo.

Have you gotten that thousand dollar egg, yet?

My birds are all 20 weeks old and no eggs yet. I've got a couple Wynadottes that are pretty close tho.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

One of my Wyandottes started laying one week ago. She was 19 weeks and 6 days old. No eggs from my other Wyandotte or Barred Rock. My Black Australorp isn't due for a few weeks. I think my Minorca is a Roo.

Have you gotten that thousand dollar egg, yet?

My neighbors collected these for me today! We are on vacation lol. But I’m so excited to have gotten THREE today!!

 

[Rebechenson75]

These are my babies. They are 20.5 weeks old. Getting closer to laying though.

 

[Dogs Cows Chicken]

My neighbors collected these for me today! We are on vacation lol. But I’m so excited to have gotten THREE today!!

So exciting! What a great vay-cay surprise! and a fantastic picture, too!

 

[Dogs Cows Chicken]

These are my babies. They are 20.5 weeks old. Getting closer to laying though.

Such beautiful ladies! Those Gold... I love them!

I hope it helps to know that my Wyandotte, Edith, who had her first at 20 weeks (19 weeks and 6 days... close enough) has laid every single day, and every single one is a fairy egg. I had to crack 6 to make A 3-egg dinner the other night. She's a Silver Laced. She started clucking her head off more than a week before her 1st egg and is STILL non-stop. I don't know if that's Wyandotte or just Edith. She started squatting about the same time and will squat as I approach from SEVERAL feet away. Again, might be an Edith-thing.

My girls are 21 weeks and 6 days today.

My Colombian Wyandotte, Marion, is not chatty, has started half-squatting in recent days, LOVES to get in the nest box, more so since I added decoy eggs, but she's not started laying. I don't "feel" like it's imminent.

My Australorp, Morticia, has shown no signs she's ever going to lay, but my research notes say 16-17 weeks for Australorps. Is your black pullet an Australorp? Poor Tisha is the very last in the packing order. Does that have an impact? I don't know...

Today I was surprised to find an egg from Peggy, my Barred Rock, even though the range for her is 16-20 weeks. Let me tell you, I don't know how she did it. It's about the size I get from my 2yo Leghorn, only it's oval instead of egg-shaped. I have no idea which end is up. Not only that, but there's a "seam" not quite in the middle that looks like she fused 1/3 of on egg to half of another then tried to spackle it. One end has a darker colored splotch at the and of what looks like a spackled-over crack. It looks like she put serious work and a trip to Home Depot into producing this thing. I can't even put it in a carton; it's too tall. I have today it sideways and let it take up 3 places. (The pic is my profile banner)

Poor Peggy. No wonder she's been cranky. For two days she's come to me with pre-meditated pecks (not gentle ones), then wants to perch on me or sit in my lap but not be touched. Fickle.

My Minorca is a roo, I'm 98% certain. Not much to report there, except he has to come over and regulate whenever one of the girls squats for me, perches on me or sits in my lap. I try to have a hidden treat for him anytime he seems concerned about my intentions with the girls. I hope that's not a bad move.

I 100%, did not intend such a lengthy "comment." I just wanted to let you know a quick. status on my girls' since our flocks are so similar in age and breed. Most of this probably should have gone in my journal (and likely will, along with pics and video ). Sorry about that.

 

[Rebechenson75]

Such beautiful ladies! Those Gold... I love them!

I hope it helps to know that my Wyandotte, Edith, who had her first at 20 weeks (19 weeks and 6 days... close enough) has laid every single day, and every single one is a fairy egg. I had to crack 6 to make A 3-egg dinner the other night. She's a Silver Laced. She started clucking her head off more than a week before her 1st egg and is STILL non-stop. I don't know if that's Wyandotte or just Edith. She started squatting about the same time and will squat as I approach from SEVERAL feet away. Again, might be an Edith-thing.

My girls are 21 weeks and 6 days today.

My Colombian Wyandotte, Marion, is not chatty, has started half-squatting in recent days, LOVES to get in the nest box, more so since I added decoy eggs, but she's not started laying. I don't "feel" like it's imminent.

My Australorp, Morticia, has shown no signs she's ever going to lay, but my research notes say 16-17 weeks for Australorps. Is your black pullet an Australorp? Poor Tisha is the very last in the packing order. Does that have an impact? I don't know...

Today I was surprised to find an egg from Peggy, my Barred Rock, even though the range for her is 16-20 weeks. Let me tell you, I don't know how she did it. It's about the size I get from my 2yo Leghorn, only it's oval instead of egg-shaped. I have no idea which end is up. Not only that, but there's a "seam" not quite in the middle that looks like she fused 1/3 of on egg to half of another then tried to spackle it. One end has a darker colored splotch at the and of what looks like a spackled-over crack. It looks like she put serious work and a trip to Home Depot into producing this thing. I can't even put it in a carton; it's too tall. I have today it sideways and let it take up 3 places. (The pic is my profile banner)

Poor Peggy. No wonder she's been cranky. For two days she's come to me with pre-meditated pecks (not gentle ones), then wants to perch on me or sit in my lap but not be touched. Fickle.

My Minorca is a roo, I'm 98% certain. Not much to report there, except he has to come over and regulate whenever one of the girls squats for me, perches on me or sits in my lap. I try to have a hidden treat for him anytime he seems concerned about my intentions with the girls. I hope that's not a bad move.

I 100%, did not intend such a lengthy "comment." I just wanted to let you know a quick. status on my girls' since our flocks are so similar in age and breed. Most of this probably should have gone in my journal (and likely will, along with pics and video ). Sorry about that.

Teri is a Black Copper Marans she is such a sweet girl. Unfortunately all the girls are still freeloading. I have a feeling that one day soon several of them are going to gift us with their first eggs.

 

[Dogs Cows Chicken]

Teri is a Black Copper Marans she is such a sweet girl. Unfortunately all the girls are still freeloading. I have a feeling that one day soon several of them are going to gift us with their first eggs.

You'll cancel their tab when you get that first egg.
I did anyway. I'm sure I'll start a new one soon enough.