Just curious, what age were your chickens when they laid their first egg and what breed where they? I have a Red Star, Barred Rock, Silkie, Ameraucana, buff Orpington, and a silver laced wyandotte. Maybe someone could help me out?
Last edited:
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I’ve had pullets of various breeds begin laying as young as 16 weeks. I’ve had some pullets wait 9 months before they laid their first egg. It varies by the individual. Breed and time of year come into play too but mainly it varies by the individual. How you feed them plays a part too. If you feed a high protein feed, you can often push them into laying a bit early, but that is not always healthy.
You really don’t have enough for averages to mean a lot, it varies so much by the individual. If you had twice as many I’d kind of start looking for the first egg around 20 weeks, maybe 18 weeks if one is a bit early. It’s possible but unlikely before that. If you had twice as many, I’d think a few more would kick in about 23 to 24 weeks, with the majority laying by 7 months. But this is just a guess. It really can vary by individual pullet.
I'm not Ridgerunner, but I've had red sex links start at 16 weeks. Freaked me right out! None of my other birds have laid that young.Just curious, which breeds started laying at 16 weeks?
I'm not Ridgerunner, but I've had red sex links start at 16 weeks. Freaked me right out! None of my other birds have laid that young.
(hatchery) RIR, Buff Orp, Black Australorp, Barred Rock - 23, 24 and 26 weeks
(non hatchery) Black Copper Marans - 18 weeks
(non hatchery) Welsummer - 20 weeks
the skin on their face around their eyes will get really red the week they're going to start, as well as their comb and wattles.