Jersey giant layed an egg at 18 weeks

[Emrosenagel]

Hello!

I’ve got four jersey giants that are 18 weeks old. One of them matured very quickly, she’s had a big comb and wattles for a few weeks, bright red. And today, she layed an egg!

My question is, should I be concerned about any reproductive problems with her, since she is starting laying almost four weeks early? The egg looked fine, a little dull in color with some darker spots.

Thanks!

 

[The Coop Crew]

Hello!

I’ve got four jersey giants that are 18 weeks old. One of them matured very quickly, she’s had a big comb and wattles for a few weeks, bright red. And today, she layed an egg!

My question is, should I be concerned about any reproductive problems with her, since she is starting laying almost four weeks early? The egg looked fine, a little dull in color with some darker spots.

Thanks!

I don’t think 18 weeks is SUPER early. I wouldn’t worry unless she gives you a reason to worry (weird behavior, weird eggs, ect)
Congrats on your first egg!!

 

[Emrosenagel]

I don’t think 18 weeks is SUPER early. I wouldn’t worry unless she gives you a reason to worry (weird behavior, weird eggs, ect)
Congrats on your first egg!!

Thanks! I’ll keep an eye on her

 

[mlmonro3]

Our Jersey Giants both laid first and early in our flock! I wouldn’t be concerned!

 

[kthorne36]

Hi All i have 5 hens, 2 Jersey Giants, 2 Sapphire Gems and 1 Americana/EE. all were born around Valentines day so 5 months old (22 weeks). This week we started getting a green egg from my EE but we had been getting 2 brown eggs almost every day since the end of June, kinda smallish compared to the store bought eggs i had left in my fridge. I figured my Gems were doing the laying then my Americana then one day we had this monster brown egg which was twice the size of the others. Im thinking one of them will be walking funny from that one. So this morning i go out to check and find my littlest Jersey on the nest and she didnt scoot when i opened the door like she would if she was just hanging out. She is one of the most skittish of the bunch. Is it possible she layed that huge egg? or any eggs now? I wasn't expecting a egg from either Jersey till like September

 

[Mrs. K]

Laying is a natural act and it is genetic . When it happens it happens and humans have almost no influence on it.

While there are breed trends, there are exceptions. I think Jersey Giants are suppose to be late maturing. But each breed has has huge variance. So if you had a 1000 Jersey Giants - most would probably lay later - maybe 75%, but 25% might lay very early.

My very first broody hen was a breed that was suppose to never go broody. She hadn't read the book.

Sometimes posts post on here about the evils of production birds and their early and continuous laying shortening their lives as in there is something people can do about it. Really the only thing one can do, is not get those birds. If you have those birds, genetically she will lay like she is wired to lay. Diet will have almost no influence on it.

So if you don't like this early laying JG, well don't hatch her eggs.

Mrs K