How old was your hen when she laid her 1st egg?

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Great idea! Then everyone can get a feel for the range of dates. Some other data that might factor in would be location and whether the birds are mostly penned or free-range most of the day. I've read that the free-range ones start earlier. Would be interesting to know if that is everyone else's experience.

As for me, I have two RIRs and two BRs. One of our RIRs started laying at 20 wks, and one BR at 21 weeks. The other two are still loafing on the job! We live in Wisconsin and the days are quickly getting shorter. Our hens are allowed to free-range only 1-2 hours per day; otherwise they are penned. The eggs are about 6 cm, I'm guessing. Here is a photo with a large egg from the grocery store for comparison:

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Don't you love seeing photos of other people's eggs???

I love seeing if mine are similar or unique.
It's not as fun to find out some of my hens are way more worthless than other people's!

 

[Babe77]

First egg on Friday October 9, 2009
Second egg on October 11, 2009 (not sure if from same hen)

Breed of hens- Isa Brown

Age in weeks when she laid- 17 weeks, 4 days (17 wks 6 days)

Did they all start laying around the same time?- Not sure

Color of egg- Lt. Brown (darker Lt. Brown)

Size of egg- 1 3/8" W x 2" L (ruler), Weight: 1.5 oz.
(1 1/2" W x 2" L (ruler), Weight: 1.5 oz.

2nd egg

 

[Mrs.ChickChick]

Breed of hen- Barred Rock

Age in weeks when she laid- 22.5 weeks

If you have more than one of that breed, did they all start laying around the same time?- only have 1

Color of egg- light brown

Size of egg- medium

 

[Jonell]

Chicken Obsessed. Wow Thanks
My RIR Alpha is 21weeks, + 3days. She layed her 1st egg, and Bertha RIR 21weeks + 6days layed her 1st egg. 4 RIR to go.
and 5 22week Wels. 6 Buffs 13weeks

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
Are your buffs rocks or orpingtons?

 

[johnniecourtney]

I have a Buff Orpington, Barred Rock, and Americauna... all are 27 weeks... and no eggs!!

Is there anything I could be doing wrong??

Thanks!

Courtney

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
Maybe, maybe not.

Mine do best on lay crumble, they don't like pellets. Scratch is only for treats. If you're feeding them a lot of junk rather than lay formula, that could delay laying time or decrease amount of eggs laid over the course of a year.

27 weeks is really not that late. They are not sex-links, so they will have more normal laying times. I have a 30-week old BLRWyandotte and Black langshan that haven't even thought about laying. But the rest of the breeds lay about every day. They all started at different times, even hens of the same breed.

 

[the lemon tree]

My Red Sex-Link is coming up on 22 weeks soon and still no eggs! Looks like I'll beat the current record!

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
Somebody's gotta do it!