How long to wait for a hen to lay?

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
I'm not the original poster, but I would think that her lack of eggs tends to be a dead give-away...

I know where he/she is coming from because I am living under the same assumption. My almost 8-month-old RIR and BR aren't laying, and I've reached the conclusion that they are not laying based on the fact that there are no eggs.

 

[mrsmaonaigh]

I'm slightly neurotic when it comes to my chickens. I'm out there with them all the time. I can see them from my living room too. I keep track of how many eggs I get a day and who I've seen in the nest boxes. I know pretty much which eggs belong to who and who uses what nest boxes. Yes, I have a lot of time on my hands but I find it fascinating. I also know that if I only get 5 eggs and I've seen 5 chickens in the nest boxes and NOT that chicken then it is safe to assume it is not her. I have 8 girls and usually average 5-6 eggs a day. I know one of my other hens has laid in the past but isn't currently. I have 20 more chicks in the brooder so I'm going to have a lot of beaks to feed. I doubt I'll be able to keep up with it when those start laying but for now I know who is laying what.

 

[chicken garden lady]

My second EE finally laid on 11-15, The first EE girl laid on 9-18. they are the same age hatched April 7. I'm still waiting on a BO and a wellsummer but I think they are close. Their combs have reddened up,and I noticed they come over to me looking for attention. When I pet them they squat. My second EE acted like that before she laid, very freindly. I wonder if pecking order has anything to do with when they start to lay, the wellsummer and EE are at the bottom of the pecking order. Maybe they spend more time worrying about being too close to the wrong girl and less time eating. Any thoughts? As for if they will wait for spring to start I don't know, I don't have alot of experience yet. good luck.