Pullets hatched September 2012 & waiting for eggs?

[feeding frenzy]

Hi! I'm a new chicken raiser here. I got my first chickens (RIR) back in September 2012. I'm waiting on my RIR pullet to lay. I'm waiting for the first egg. Anyone have pullets hatched last September and waiting for eggs or have seen eggs already? My RIR hen has full red comb and full wattles developed last week and still see no eggs. Feel free to post. I want to see how others are doing.

 

[Sunny Days]

Hi, I purchased a light Sussex pullet who hatched in Sept 12 and two RIR bantams who hatched in early August and I am patiently waiting for an egg? I have heard bantams take longer to start laying. Is this right?:

 

[Pathfinders]

Pullets who were hatched in September will not likely begin to lay for a few weeks yet. It's all about the length of daylight, as well as their age. They are about the right age by now (four months), but the days are still a little short yet. Most chickens don't lay when the days are shorter than about 12 hours long, so if you really need them to lay now, then you'll need to supplement the daylight with artificial light. Often just one lightbulb in their coop will do it, put on a timer so that they get at least 14 to 16 hours of light per day.

I've got a couple of articles on my website to help you determine if your hens are laying, and why they might be laying poorly, see these links for more info:

How to Determine if a Hen is Laying: http://www.pathfindersfarm.com/Laying.html

Why Might My Chickens Lay Poorly?: http://www.pathfindersfarm.com/Rateoflay.html

Hope this is of some help to you. And be patient, likely your girls will start to lay very soon!

 

[mishella69]

I am waiting on my BR pullet to lay. She is 19wks old today. She just started growing her comb and wattles and its turning a little red. She lives in a dog kennel in my house with 3 roosters (same age) and the head rooster has been mating with her the last 2 weeks and she squats for him. We are in the process of building a chicken coop so hopefully it will get done soon so she will have some laying boxes to use. I also have 2 Austrolorps and 2 Production red pullets and they are 14wks. I need to get some more pullets!! I cant wait to start seeing some eggs!!

 

[theotherfoote]

My flock of 4 was hatched Sept. 1st. The Buff Orpington started laying on Jan. 23rd and my RIR started on the 29th. No signs of my Cuckoo Marans and Black Australorp wanting to lay, even though their combs are really red.

Hang in there!

 

[feeding frenzy]

Light may be problem my rir pullet not laying yet. i don"t get out to the coop to open up until 7am & she hides in the coop at 5:30pm when sun is gone

 

[feeding frenzy]

Thank you pathfinder. Your advice & articles are very informative

 

[loriesmall]

Our chickens were hatched on September 18, 2012. Today we found the cutest tiny egg in the coop. We are not sure which chicken laid it. We have barred rocks, buff orpingtons, gold laced Wyandottes, black austroolorps, and one I identified chicken.

 

[Pathfinders]

Thank you pathfinder. Your advice & articles are very informative

You're very welcome!

 

[Johnn]

I hatched a BO in June and still waiting for eggs!