How will I know when my hens are ready to lay?

[oldegger]

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I HAVE TO DO WHAT

ginbart, I'm with you on this. heck here in Ohio what he is describing is probably illegal.

 

[Jenlyn9483]

Im so glad I ran across this thread! I have two White leghorns 1 NH Red, 2 Americauna's and 1 Black Sexlink and 3 Barred Rocks, ALL 20 weeks old! NO EGGS YET I read that my White leghorns would start laying at 18 weeks. I have been feeding them Layer pellets for at least a month now, every once in a while i throw some high protein horse feed on the ground for them to scratch for for extra protein and i let them free range some and bring them greens....I'm going to chk their combs to see how red they are...

We eat a ton of eggs in this house and cant wait for the chickens to start contributing to the household.

 

[ginbart]

I know, I know. I just had to make hard boiled (store) eggs for my son. I really what some good home grown eggs.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
I HAVE TO DO WHAT

ginbart, I'm with you on this. heck here in Ohio what he is describing is probably illegal.

 

[cjeanean]

I HAVE TO DO WHAT

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
ginbart, I'm with you on this. heck here in Ohio what he is describing is probably illegal.

Personally, I would just wait for an egg. Patience is the key. They'll start laying around 5- 6 months. Although I agree with Davaroo that you should know your way around chickens since they aren't puffy foo-foos (unless you have a silky or a frizzle) why go through all the bother of trying to feel them up when this still won't tell you exactly when to expect your egg. You can visually tell that a laying hen gets a "wide bum" while non layers have a more narrow bum. When they molt and stop laying for 2 months, layers will go back to having a narrow bum again. Another sign is that a laying hen's yellowish legs get more bleached out. But why don't you just wait for an egg to show up!!

 

[Stella1964]

My cicks are now 16 weeks old and I think they're starting to get some kind of instinct on laying, although no eggs yet. I'm somewhat relieved because I've read that if they lay too early, they may become egg bound, which is not fun to deal with.

My black sex link is supposed to lay any time now, according to the books. She's the largest of the bunch and she goes into the laying box to toss out the fake eggs I have stashed in there.

My red sex link is squatting when I go to pick her up and I've heard that this is a sign of laying to happen soon.

My leghorn and rhode island red are not exhibiting any signs yet.

Yes, I'm very anxious to get our first eggs!!! But I just want them to be physically ready to lay and even if my black sex link starts before the others, I won't be able to put out oyster shells to toughen up her egg shells because it will hurt the others who aren't ready to lay yet.

Also, I'm keeping them all on grower/developer (not layer ration) crumbles until they're all laying, to be safe.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:

Personally, I would just wait for an egg. Patience is the key. They'll start laying around 5- 6 months. Although I agree with Davaroo that you should know your way around chickens since they aren't puffy foo-foos (unless you have a silky or a frizzle) why go through all the bother of trying to feel them up when this still won't tell you exactly when to expect your egg. You can visually tell that a laying hen gets a "wide bum" while non layers have a more narrow bum. When they molt and stop laying for 2 months, layers will go back to having a narrow bum again. Another sign is that a laying hen's yellowish legs get more bleached out. But why don't you just wait for an egg to show up!!

Annies right and this is the position I take these days. Income and livelihood arent hinging on this, so they will lay when they are ready - and Im good with that.
Its another option.

 

[ginbart]

If I ever get enought eggs to sell I will need to sell them for $20.00 a dozen to get some of the money back it cost to raise them.

 

[Davaroo]

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Welcome to the world of self-sufficient, all natural, wholistic, organic, green-ness. You have arrived.