Minimum Laying Age?

[Cyneswith]

I've been putting off finishing up my nesting boxes, but my birds are 13 weeks. What is the MINIMUM age they might start laying? Some combs are pinking up, but none as dark as the cockerel's.

Basically, I'm wondering if I need to do it on a weekday or if it can wait until I have a free Sunday afternoon (right at 16 weeks).

 

[Cyneswith]

(Orpingtons, Brahmas, a Marans, and an EE. I understand they are all late layers, but I don't want them to start laying in the bushes.)

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

From what I've read it also depends on when you got your chicks. Spring chicks lay as scheduled per the breed, but fall chicks lay later due to the season. This has proven true with my fall australorp chicks..

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I've been putting off finishing up my nesting boxes, but my birds are 13 weeks. What is the MINIMUM age they might start laying? Some combs are pinking up, but none as dark as the cockerel's.

Basically, I'm wondering if I need to do it on a weekday or if it can wait until I have a free Sunday afternoon (right at 16 weeks).

My flock of buff Orpington and started laying 16 to week 20. Good luck

 

[Frazzemrat1]

It depends on if you have hatchery chickens or breeder chickens. Hatchery chickens tend to lay earlier. That said, my brahmas started about 25 weeks or so, and in midwinter. The earliest that Meyer's says they'll go is about 18 or 20 weeks.

 

[aart]

Go ahead and finish off your nesting boxes when you get a chance,
add some fake eggs.
It will give them time to get used to them being there,
they can explore them,
and you can 'train' them not to sleep in them before onset of lay happens.

There's no way to time onset of lay down to the week,
they'll lay when their bodies are ready to lay.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My 5 Golden Comets started to lay at 16 1/2 weeks, and all were laying by week 19.
They were early spring chicks born on March 30.
I also was a slacker. One day I saw a pullet acting strange, running around the coop and shuffling the shavings.
I immediately started to work on the nest boxes, finished the same day. I installed them, put in the straw and a ceramic egg in each one. I put the girl into the nest to show it to her. She was in and out several times.
The next day I found a beautiful tiny egg. The second day nothing. The third day 2 eggs. This is the first girl to lay right after she laid. . It was hot that day, in the eighties Fahrenheit. GC