How much longer to I have to wait for eggs in free range pullets?

[Dandy Acres]

The title says most of the story. Crumbles are always available but they are in a tractor and get our garden scraps too. They are 21 weeks. Thanks.

 

[Terri]

my hens were almost 5 months before they started to lay.

 

[KellyHM]

It may take them another month or 2. Plus if they're free range they may find their own nests to lay in. I thought my egg production had dropped way down in the last couple weeks and this is what I found under my carport:

 

[mmtillman]

I am only gettin' 3-4 eggs a day from 21 week old hens. I keep thinkin' somewhere there HAS to be a hugh hidden stash of eggs that I have not found...but alas....I cant find it......
I have crawled and dug all over every inch of the run and...nope....no secret laying place.....just lazy hens.....

 

[KellyHM]

Quote:
That's not too bad for hens that young. Some of my girls didn't start laying until 30+ weeks - and that's when they were locked up, so I know they weren't hiding them!

 

[gritsar]

Twenty-one weeks is still young.
I'll ask the same question I just asked on another thread.
What breed of hens do you have?


I have LF brahma. I was both surprised and pleased when I had a hen start laying at 19 weeks. I waited until 38 weeks for a couple of her sisters.
ETA: 20 weeks is only a very loose rule of thumb. Some start earlier, many start way later.

 

[chicks4kids]

I'm going through the same thing with 11 BR pullets at 21.5 weeks old--I'm about ready to pee my pants I'm so anxious!!!

for both of us!!!

 

[shaggy]

mine are at 18 weeks ... i have been checking every day for 2 weeks

2 buff orpingtons and i think the 3rd is a RIR ... but it looks too small to be a RIR

i am patiently tapping my foot