My girls are 18 weeks on Tuesday!

[sarastamand]

What’s your experience? When did yours start laying? We have:

-NH Reds
-Plymouth Rock
-Easter Eggers
-California White
-Cuckoo Maran

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Generally between 5-7 months.

 

[sarastamand]

Generally between 5-7 months.

I’m so excited I can’t wait any longer haha. We have nesting boxes. These are our first chicks. Do you think they will use them? We have fake eggs and golf balls in there while we wait for eggs...

 

[so lucky]

Watch for signs that they are getting ready to lay. Like if their combs get redder. If they spend time in the nest box, just checking it out. If they squat when you come close. It is exciting waiting for the first egg!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I’m so excited I can’t wait any longer haha. We have nesting boxes. These are our first chicks. Do you think they will use them? We have fake eggs and golf balls in there while we wait for eggs...

Hopefully they do. Most of mine will. Sometimes a first time layer likes to find somewhere she thinks is better, so keep any eye on them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I find that pullets become very vocal before they lay, so if someone becomes suddenly noisy keep an eye out for an egg within a week or so.

 

[Folly's place]

Waiting is hard! That first, VERY EXPENSIVE egg, too bad it can't be bronzed; but you could blow it out and paint it...
Enjoy!
Mary

 

[aart]

The closest sign IME is when they start messing up the nests.
Here's some other tips about how to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
Perfect time(having a group of about to lay pullets) to start learning some anatomy and what a healthy vent looks like.