GLW, Olive Eggers

[MotherOfChickens]

Hello!

So my 2 Golden Laced Wyandotte pullets are 22 weeks old and their combs and wattles are brightly red, no squatting yet. How old were yours when they began laying?

Also, my 2 Olive Egger pullets are also 22 weeks old and same, scenario, red combs and wattles no squatting yet. How old were yours when they began laying?

TIA!

 

[Debbie292d]

It can take as much as six months before some will start laying. I have silkies and they don't until about eight months or even longer.

I think yours will be any day now, and how exciting that will be!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

It can take as much as six months before some will start laying. I have silkies and they don't until about eight months or even longer.

I think yours will be any day now, and how exciting that will be!

Thank you. I was just curious as I have other breeds that I’ve had for 7 years that started laying around 16 weeks and I know different breeds lay at different ages.

I even have one Buff that started laying at 20 weeks and my other Buff that is the same age has yet to lay. So I know it also can differ greatly amongst same breeds.

I read that GLW can take up to 30 weeks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have other breeds that I’ve had for 7 years that started laying around 16 weeks

Did every pullet of that breed start laying around 16 weeks or was it more spread out? Each and every one at 16 weeks without fail? My experience is that some of the same breed start earlier or later than others. There is often more than a month's difference in the earlier ones versus the later ones.

and I know different breeds lay at different ages.

They do have that tendency, on average. But I find that that also differs by line within the breed. With different flocks different people decide which chickens get to breed and reproduce. Depending on what traits they select when making that decision you can get quite a difference in different flocks of the same breed.

I even have one Buff that started laying at 20 weeks and my other Buff that is the same age has yet to lay. So I know it also can differ greatly amongst same breeds.

Exactly.

I read that GLW can take up to 30 weeks.

I have hatchery quality dual purpose chickens, think Sussex, Rocks, and similar. If I have ten of the same breed I generally get one or two eggs by 20 weeks of age. By 23 to 24 weeks of age half are probably laying. By 27 to 28 weeks of age all or all but one are typically laying. Of course this can vary but it's been fairly consistent for me. But if I only have one or two of a breed they can be anywhere on this scale.

You've only got two of each. Averages may not mean a lot. With their combs turning bright red you probably don't have long to wait. That's not because of breed, that's because of your individual chickens.

Good luck!