Laying age

[Andie32]

So I’ve got 19pullets. 7 leghorns, 6 RIR and 6 EE. I know 12 of them are laying (it’s the most I’ve ever gotten in one day). All of the leghorns, 2 RIR and 3 EE. We feed them layers pellets. Is there anything we can do to encourage the others to lay or just have to wait it out? They’re 28 wks on Monday.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you aren't in need of more eggs, you can wait it out. That would be the best approach this time of year. Days are only 45 minutes shorter where I live than they were at the summer solstice.
Otherwise, if you want to kick start them, you could add light to the coop in the morning to slowly increment day length. That is the signal to start laying.
There may be more than 12 laying at this point because they are old enough.
Check the space between the pointy pelvic bones. If it is over 2 finger width, those birds are likely laying.

 

[Andie32]

Yea I’m not in need of them to lay. But I’ve been tracking the egg count and colors for the last month and I’ve never gotten more than 12 in a day. Just kinda curious.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Since they are new they might not lay an egg everyday. Even then, most chickens do not lay eggs everyday. Chickens go on a different time scale than 24 hours when it comes to egg laying.

I believe it is 25 hours but don’t quote me on that as I could be wrong. So it is highly probable that you wouldn’t get more than twelve eggs a day even if most of them are laying.

You can also check their bums and look at the cloaca, if it seems wet and wide then usually that means that they are laying. Or, you could mix some food coloring on petroleum jelly and smear that on their bum. The egg will come out with a color ring on it to show you who’s laying. Just do different colors for each group of birds for a few days.

 

[aart]

There may be more than 12 laying at this point because they are old enough.
Check the space between the pointy pelvic bones. If it is over 2 finger width, those birds are likely laying.

Yep, time for a butt check.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Do you free range?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Andie32
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Andie32]

Yep, time for a butt check.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Do you free range?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @Andie32
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1867599

I’m in levy county Florida. (West central) and we do free range in the afternoons/evening

 

[GC-Raptor]

My Golden Comets (Red sex-links) were on a 24 hour laying cycle their first year of Laying and would lay early mornings.
My newest pullets are 11 months old Barred Rocks and are on a 25 hour cycle. They lay mornings and afternoons. Not all lay every day. I get 3 to 6 from six Pullets. Usually 4 as it's summer here and Laying slows when temps hit 80s (27 c).
I would look for a nest or two where they free range.
I keep my Hens and Pullets in their large pens till an hour before sunset.
Less Predators around here at that time, and less chance of laying an egg. . GC