How old are hens when they start laying?

[banditgin]

I have three Buff Orpington hens - they are about 24 weeks old (I bought them around Mothers Day when they were 8 weeks). but no eggs yet. I thought I read that hens start laying by now. Thanks

 

[herefordlovinglady]

I read where they usually start around 21 weeks. Mine started at 20 and 24 weeks (i have eight) . have you looked around real good to be sure they are not laying under a bush or in the back seat and floor of your car (mine did).

 

[banditgin]

I should probably take a look around. they are not out of their coop that many days as we don't let them out if we're not home. that might also be affecting it.

 

[herefordlovinglady]

good luck on your egg hunt. they should start laying soon. let us know when you get your first egg -- very eggciting day...

you also may want to put some golf balls in the nest box -- this may temp them -- who knows...

 

[muddyhorse]

the combs and wattles turn bright red before they start laying. also the neck feathers get shinny I put easter eggs in the nest box to tempt them. also my 6 year old explains it to the new birds "this is where the eggs go, here is your food, this is the water, If you are a crab butt you will go bye bye...."

 

[dsqard]

Crab butt!

 

[banditgin]

Quote:
too funny on the crab butt.

One has a very nice comb and wattle, one sorta does but is not quite there and one doesn't have any.

 

[QuailQT]

I feel your frustration!

My Buff Orps hatched the week before Christmas and I still haven't gotten one. They are now all penned up with a nice sized run and I hope to see one soon! Lowered the nest boxes a bit too and added a perch to the front.

I may have too many boys around and thought that may be a lot of the problem. Could that be stressing them out?
Anyone ever heard of them being that old and not producing?

Good luck!

If you are a crab butt you will go bye bye...

Too cute!​

 

[muddyhorse]

A lot of times it takes longer for larger birds to start laying. especially if they are breeder stock and not hatchery stock. it took my STD cochins 13 MONTHS. My lav orps are 6 months and nothing yet. one is just starting to get some color in her face.

 

[QuailQT]

I'm so excited!

I saw one of my BO hens in the newly updated nest box yesterday! She was making quite a racket and was probably in there for about 20 minutes. (Maybe it wasn't that long, but I was peeking through the window for about 10+ minutes and who knows how long she was in there before I went outside.)

Then my Campine X hen got up on the nest box perch and decided to get in with Buffy. She chased her right out of there!

Three other boxes were available, she was just being a snot!

Usually all of the hens lay in the same box, but there was a White Leghorn in the hot spot, so the Buffy got in a different box. Who knows, maybe the Campine was telling her that she was in the wrong box! I wonder what goes through their mind sometimes!

Buffy never did get back in the box, but hopefully today is the day! Please keep your fingers/toes crossed for me! It seems like I've been waiting forever!