First week of laying

[NadineIvette]

Hello. I have a 21 week old golden sexlink, this is her first week of laying, and she has laid 8 days in a row. Is this normal? I feel so bad for her she must be exhausted. I know they are all her eggs because I only have 3 chickens and the other two are still 18 week old pullets. They have not yet laid an egg.
Thank you in advance for any replies!

 

[NadineIvette]

Also I want to add that she’s a free range chicken in an city backyard.

 

[Aapomp831]

It is not abnormal at all. Red sex links are hybrid production birds, bred to lay tons of eggs. Unfortunately, as a result, they have shortened lifespans of about 3 to 5 years. If your other chickens are also the same breed, they may be laying as well. Sex linked hybrid production chickens can start saying as early as 17 weeks.

 

[NadineIvette]

Thank you for your reply, my other chickens are speckled Sussex.

 

[NadineIvette]

They still have not developed combs or wattles

 

[Aapomp831]

Oh ok, I’m not familiar with speckled Sussex, I just know they’re beautiful.
Red sex links I believe lay anywhere from 320 to 345 eggs per year. Almost an egg everyday.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Yes, I concur. The production birds are bred to lay lay lay. Keep her calcium up and she will be fine. Your Sussexes will lay less, but will live longer. They will lay well into their golden years, just infrequently.

Congrats on the eggs!

 

[NadineIvette]

Oh ok, I’m not familiar with speckled Sussex, I just know they’re beautiful.
Red sex links I believe lay anywhere from 320 to 345 eggs per year. Almost an egg everyday.

Omg I was not aware of how many eggs sexlinks would lay. Thank you!

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Mine has been going for a month now. I hope she takes a break soon.

 

[aart]

Had an OE, EE dad and amberlink mom.
This is was her pattern, with 1 day off between, for as long as I recorded it:
From 7/23/2014 to 4/15/2015 49, 34, 20, 6, 13, 16, 4, 13, 42