How Long until a Buff Plymouth Rock Lays?

[MKetter]

Of the six birds I have, five are laying. The hybrids (Ideal 236 and Black Stars) started laying first. Very recently the Blue Laced Wyandotte started laying. Today's will be her third egg. The Buff Plymouth Rock hasn't started, yet. Got them all in April. Any owners of Buff Plymouth Rocks that can tell me how old they are before they begin laying? We're right at five months old now. She needs to start paying rent.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of her?

5months/20weeks, to me is fairly early for Plymouth Rocks. While each color/variety can have their own traits, a heritage bird is generally going to take longer to start producing. A Buff Plymouth Rock is going to be a larger bird than the others and will take a little longer to mature as well.

Hard to know without seeing her, then that's not a given. Ime with Plymouth Rocks, both Barred and White, you're looking at not coming into lay until 25+ weeks.

That said - she will come into lay when it's her time - all good things are worth the wait. If she's happy, healthy and enjoying life, there's something to say about that too.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

To quote @Ridgerunner again: with living creatures you do not get guarantees.

Egg-laying is ovulation. It happens when it happens and she may be just as surprised as you when it does. But this is what female critters do, so it's a pretty safe bet that it WILL happen. All you can do is wait.

 

[MKetter]

she may be just as surprised as you when it does.

I always wondered, when a chicken lays an egg for the first time, does it wonder “what the heck is happening? Ow! What’s that?”

 

[thecatumbrella]

I always wondered, when a chicken lays an egg for the first time, does it wonder “what the heck is happening? Ow! What’s that?”

That's what I think! The constant shuffle in and out of the nest box. The screaming. Eating like there's no tomorrow. I don't think they have any idea what's happening, other than something's wrong and they need to be alone (hence the draw to a private nest box). But they adapt to it so quickly. Mine only take 2-3 eggs to start settling into a routine. It makes me proud!

 

[MKetter]

Do you have photos of her?

5months/20weeks, to me is fairly early for Plymouth Rocks. While each color/variety can have their own traits, a heritage bird is generally going to take longer to start producing. A Buff Plymouth Rock is going to be a larger bird than the others and will take a little longer to mature as well.

Hard to know without seeing her, then that's not a given. Ime with Plymouth Rocks, both Barred and White, you're looking at not coming into lay until 25+ weeks.

That said - she will come into lay when it's her time - all good things are worth the wait. If she's happy, healthy and enjoying life, there's something to say about that too.

Here are some photos. Hard to get a good one. I just took them from outside the run. If I go in they all bunch up around my feet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Here are some photos. Hard to get a good one. I just took them from outside the run. If I go in they all bunch up around my feet.

Lovely girls!