Please tell me...

[RidgeRunner Hen]

That thIs is a sign my hens are maturing...
My roo is picking on them a little (nothing horrible), being protective,(poor finches and other song birds)...
The hens were 18 weeks this past Thursday.
Is there a possible egg in my near future???

 

[rcentner]

well, it's a sign that your roo is maturing

but at 18 weeks I would expect an egg in the next few weeks. Each breed matures at different rates, some like the golden comets will lay earlier and the cochins and wyandottes and langshans are slower...can be 23 weeks before they lay. Look up what breed you have and see if they are slower to mature. I know come people on here have had eggs asa early as 14 weeks! My bantam cochins started at about 19 weeks or so except for 1 that waited much longer and she was obviously slower to mature.

 

[RidgeRunner Hen]

I have Golden Buffs from Meyer Hatchery. Let's hope they are early layers!