Hello from Sioux Falls

[aflad2013]

My hens are 16 weeks old at about what age is the earliest that they will start laying eggs and do they lay their eggs before coming down to the run or do they go up to the roost to lay if they have already been up and been in the run. I am a first-timer

 

[Den in Penn]

When they start to lay depends a lot on the breed. Production breeds start earliest around 17 to 18 weeks. Others start later. Mine usually go out for a while then go back to the nest boxes to lay.

 

[Ted n Ms]

I have 16 production reds. A couple started laying at 15 weeks. They now are 20 weeks.
Today i got 16 eggs.

 

[aflad2013]

How do you know if they are production breeds? We purchased our chicks from McMurray Hatchery, my breeds are buff orpingtons, rir, barred rock and plymouth rock.

 

[Ted n Ms]

How do you know if they are production breeds? We purchased our chicks from McMurray Hatchery, my breeds are buff orpingtons, rir, barred rock and plymouth rock.

Well....I ordered production reds.

 

[Den in Penn]

Sorry I should have said production crosses, production reds are one of many crosses. The ones you have are usually considered heritage breeds. All decent layers. The Rhode Island Red breed is one of the breeds used to cross with other breeds to make crosses (hybrids). You said you have Barred Rock and Plymouth Rock. The Barred Rock's full name is Barred Plymouth Rock. The barred part refers to its black and white color, the Plymouth Rock part is its breed. There are many different color Plymouth Rocks. I have the barred and the white colors presently. What color is your other Plymouth Rock?

 

[aflad2013]

I have a black & white barred rock and a white plymouth rock, 2 buff orpingtons and 1 RIR. I noticed today my white plymouth rock was acting strange running around and kind of squatting, but when I went out about an hour ago she was fine and there isn't any eggs around. I did go and purchase the layers feed and some oyster shell crumb. I was wondering is it okay to mix the growers feed with the layers pellet to use up the growers feed?

 

[Den in Penn]

The squatting is a sign they are maturing. That behavior doesn't mean they will lay the next day, but they are getting there. If you have enough grower to last another week I would wait, then mix to get them used to the new feed. The breeds you have start laying around twenty weeks, mine did. The oyster shell you can put in a dish on the side for them. At their age they will investigate but they don't yet need the calcium, when they are laying that's when they will use it.

 

[aflad2013]

Thanks for all the information, it really helps.