I’m starting to think they’ll never lay eggs.

[K0k0shka]

Congrats! Sometimes they like to take their time, and it's not always clear why. The past couple of years I've had two batches of the same breed of chicks, that I hatched at the exact same time (within a day of each other in April on two consecutive years). So everything aligned perfectly. And yet, the first batch started laying at the start of winter, in December, while the second batch only started at the end of February, at 10 months old! No reason why the second group should start so much later than the first... and yet they did. Chickens don't always make sense.

 

[Kgroves57]

I bought 4 hens last year from tractor supply. 2 of those hens have yet to start laying and I’m starting to lose hope. I just can’t wait until I see an egg from those two girls. The sapphire gem & Delaware pullet was bought together they’re now roughly 8 months old. My sapphire started laying a month ago at 7 months. My Delaware is the same age and I’ve gotten NO eggs from her yet. Then I have a sapphire olive egger & black copper Maran that was bought in August of last year. So they’re both 6 months old & my sapphire olive egger just started laying this week at 6 months old but my black copper maran hasn’t started laying yet.

So my delegate hen at 8 months hasn’t laid me an egg yet & then my black copper maran at 6 months hasn’t given me an egg yet. Does anyone have the same 2 as I have? If so when did they start laying eggs for you?

I'm in same boat. I specifically asked for young LAYING hens and only one has layed and is consistently laying an egg a day . They are all 8 1/2 months old but she's the only one laying as of yet. I'm beginning to wonder about the rest.

 

[HLail]

I'm in same boat. I specifically asked for young LAYING hens and only one has layed and is consistently laying an egg a day . They are all 8 1/2 months old but she's the only one laying as of yet. I'm beginning to wonder about the rest.

Don’t give up hope. I had to wait awhile but they finally are all laying eggs for me. My hens range from 6 to 8 months old. Also sometimes I’ve learned the breeds of the hens can make a difference on when they might start laying. Some hens start laying sooner then other breeds.

 

[Mrs. K]

See, I was exactly right.

 

[HLail]

See, I was exactly right.

Yes you sure was!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'm in same boat. I specifically asked for young LAYING hens and only one has layed and is consistently laying an egg a day . They are all 8 1/2 months old but she's the only one laying as of yet. I'm beginning to wonder about the rest.

RSL. The red sex linked hens, bought in March, or very early April - also go by Golden Comets, Cinnamon Queens, Gold Stars, Lohman Brown, ISA Brown, etc - are good if you want eggs coming into your first winter. No guarantees, there are never any guarantees in life - but they tend to start laying relatively early, and by getting them at the start of season, chances are they will be ready to begin laying before the daily light levels get so short that they delay production. Once they start, chances are good they will lay right thru their fist winter.

If buying breeds (typically) slower to start of egg production, buy late in the season, let them put on size over the winter, and begin laying mid Spring.

My opinion only. This advice worth not more, and perhaps less, than you paid for it. Caveat emptor and all...

 

[aaron the chicken teen]

Some of my birds started laying at 9 months because winter came before they starred to lay

i totally agree with you mine laid yesterday at 27 weeks old apparently they were supposed to lay at 18 weeks old. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE INTERNET LISTEN TO EXPIRIENCE

 

[JacinLarkwell]

i totally agree with you mine laid yesterday at 27 weeks old apparently they were supposed to lay at 18 weeks old. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE INTERNET LISTEN TO EXPIRIENCE

Different breeds and seasons affect laying age