How old on average are BOs when they start to lay?

[goldeneggtees]

mine were 17 weeks!!!!

 

[mdpfeifer]

I have 2 buff orpingtons. One was 24 weeks and the other was 27 weeks. They have been very good layers so far throughout the winter.....(even though one still chooses not to lay in the nesting box)

 

[cochicks]

Quote:
Impressive! I don't think mine will go that early because they are just starting to get some red. Their combs are still very small and pink.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Hatchery/production quality Buffs should start laying earlier than if you got them from a private breeder of good quality Buffs. Hatchery birds typically start laying around 6-7 months of age, others start around 8-9 months.

ETA: It also depends on what TIME of the year in which they hatched. Late Winter and Spring chicks will typically start laying in the Fall of the same year, while those hatched in the Summer and Fall will typically start laying when the weather warms the following year. So, it makes it seem like they take longer to lay, but their eggs are larger.

 

[goldeneggtees]

I was surprised too. I got them April 4, 2009 and expected to start getting eggs by October but when we came back from vacation in the beginning of August, lo and behold, there were eggs waiting. A lady who was watching them for me had them in a really cute basket she had bought for us while we away.

We were very eggcited! How many times was that term used on BYC?

Quote:
Impressive! I don't think mine will go that early because they are just starting to get some red. Their combs are still very small and pink.

 

[cochicks]

The eggs will just be an added bonus. I love my little BO girls. They are SO friendly! I can wait. No, really, I can.

 

[SGM]

My hens are all mid August hatch and the Anconas beat everyone else to laying. All 3 of the Anconas were laying before any others. Then my 3 Ameracanas (EEs) started laying and now I'm getting brown eggs. I have 2 SLW, 3 BO and 3 Russian Spangled Orloffs. I've had a SLW, BO and a RSO squatting for me for several days and now they've begun to lay. I actually got 5 brown eggs today.