How long before my Buff Sussex pullets start laying!?

[Ebarnes-21]

Ok so these lovely birds were hatched in october, making them now 9 months or 36 weeks.

There are 2 roosters and 4 hens.

They grew really fast, and have been full sized for months now, quite large in fact.

They all started producing mature-looking feathers (eg, tail feathers and ruffs for the guys) a couple of months ago.

In the last month or so the ladies have been getting progressively larger and brighter combs. They are not huge, but just as big and bright as my other heavy breeds are at first lay.

About a week or two ago the First Crow came from master George ... he's very proud of himself. (I didn't tell him most roosters crow by 3 months, not 9 ...)

But what about EGGS???? Ladies?? Please?

I keep them locked in until 12 every day and then check in curbed excitement that always ends in a sad sigh after opening the nest box ... >>

 

[chickens really]

Soon they should.....Keep waiting.....

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where are you, north or south of the equator? Information like that can help in questions like this. You might modify your profile to show a general location. If you are south of the equator it may simply be that they are waiting for the days to get longer.

I've had pullets start laying at 16 weeks and some of the same general breeding start at 9 months. Most start around 5 to 6 months. Time of year didn't always play a part though I think it had an influence a few times. Some people like to think breed plays a huge part, I don't. Breed can have an influence but I believe the individual chicken plays a much bigger part.

Bright red combs and wattles are a sign they are ready to lay or are laying. Another good sign is to check the width of the pelvic bones. With Sussex if they are two fingers wide (depending in how big your fingers are) they are probably not laying. Three fingers they are or should soon be. Another easy sign is to look at the vent. A small dry vent means they are not laying, a moist soft larger vent means they are or are ready. I go by the appearance of the vent more than any other clue. But these are just clues, the proof is what is in the nest.

Have you looked anywhere for eggs other than in the nests? How easy would it be for them to hide a nest? If they are laying, that would be my first guess, they are hiding a nest.

Are you sure something is not getting the eggs if they are laying? I don't know what critters you might have capable of stealing an egg without leaving a trace since I don't know what part of the world you live in, most predators do leave traces, but there are a few that could swipe an egg and you'd never know. Snakes, canines, and a human would be my most likely culprits to do that. You might leave an egg down there and see if it disappears if that is feasible.

It's really difficult to guess what might be going on over the internet. I'd suspect it's simply that they are getting ready to start laying. Good luck!

 

[Ebarnes-21]

South of the equator ... northern New Zealand. Funny I thought I had put that on my profile ages ago ...

Never previously had young birds not start laying in our mild winter ... I usually breed young ones specifically for the reason that they will lay in winter while the older birds are off ... But, maybe this is the first time.

If all eggs were laid after 12:00 noon, it would be easy to hide them as they are free range after that time ... however I'm keeping them locked in until then, under the concept that most eggs are laid before that time, and it is not possible for them to hide them in that pen.

The nest box is a roll away version, so unless they lay out in the open, predation is unlikely ... we don't have snakes or canines ... the chicken hutch is 300metres away from the road, 10 metres away from our house, and only accessible by passing the geese and the house, so other humans are virtually impossible ...

Now if it had of been our old chicken pen I would have wondered about our wandering neighbor but its too close to us now, and besides he's scared of our geese ...

Possible predators in the area can include rats, stoats and our cats, and of course there is always the possibility of egg eating. However, egg eating leaves a trace sooner or later, at least a damp spot, and I'm having trouble envisaging any of the other species getting an egg out of the roll-away. Our best hunting cat recently came home after a 3 year absence and totaled the rodent population within one week, so rats are not so likely. Of course that cat used to be the principal egg thief herself, but she won't get them out of that nest box I think.

I will pop a bought egg or two out there and see what happens to it to prove yea or nay for predation of whatever variety.

Vent check ... well I've never been great at that ... I did check ... and to be honest I would say they are exactly halfway between a typical "never laid" and a typical "good layer". Which doesn't tell me much for certain.

They've never made the "Laying Cackle" yet ... they do have a 6:am squawk chorus when George falls off the perch crowing and clears hens off the perches below him too ... but that is the only time the ladies give voice.

 

[fatcatx]

I am curious to know when they started laying. I've had Sussex take 9 months to lay. Hard to be patient!

 

[Ebarnes-21]

Ah so I'm not the only one with late starting Sussex. Good to know. Thats OK not a deal breaker for the breed for me, I'm so happy with them in every other way and now they're laying WONDERFULLY.

They started about 2 weeks after the post (The first one only about a week after, and the last a month after), so shall we say they started laying at 9-10 months.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So the middle of July. That's the equivalent of January north of the equator. They waited until the days had just barely started getting longer. Thanks for the update an glad to hear they are laying well now.

 

[fatcatx]

Ah so I'm not the only one with late starting Sussex. Good to know. Thats OK not a deal breaker for the breed for me, I'm so happy with them in every other way and now they're laying WONDERFULLY.

They started about 2 weeks after the post (The first one only about a week after, and the last a month after), so shall we say they started laying at 9-10 months.

I agree. I adore the breed so patience must be a necessity and virtue.
In a moment of weakness last week i got some chicks including a Speckled S. I am very curious to see how long it will take to reach POL since she is a fall chick. Only had them as spring chicks until now.