Pullets STILL not laying...are they roosters??

[RavenEh]

Hi Everyone,

I have four pullets who haven't laid yet. The white one is 6 months old, the barred rock is almost 5 months old and the two gold laced wyandottes are 15 weeks old.

While I know they start laying at any time within this time frame - I can't believe that I still don't have an egg.

Are they all pullets? I have no crowing or otherwise rooster like behaviour.

Thanks for your opinions - they are all guaranteed pullets so I can go back to the breeder if they end up being roosters.

 

[keesmom]

They are all pullets.

 

[donrae]

They're all female.

20-22 weeks is an average time to start laying. I know patience is hard, but they're just not ready yet.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Beautiful healthy looking hens. I've heard of pullets laying as early as 4.5 mos, but not my experience. I have 7 different breeds/varieties. My first egg was 22.5 wks, I've personally never had one lay younger than that. It'll happen! The waiting is so hard. Here's a really fun informative thread for folks waiting, new layers, and lots of the associated questions. Best of luck, it'll be so exciting!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/982015/who-else-is-waiting-for-that-first-egg

 

[junebuggena]

Of my six Barred Rocks, some of mine started at 19 weeks old, others didn't start until 23 weeks. One of my Australorps didn't start about 24 weeks. Your girls are still just a bit too young.

 

[devinandfeather]

My plymouths didn't actually start laying til they were 6 months old that is what they say for heritage breeds
This was them before they began to lay

 

[PoultryQueen101]

My plymouths didn't actually start laying til they were 6 months old that is what they say for heritage breeds
This was them before they began to lay

Plymout Rocks are a heritage breed, but whether they are heritage or hatchery quality is what usually determines when they lay.

 

[drumstick diva]

pullets - probably saying I'll lay when I want to, and you can't make me." they sound like petulant children

 

[chicksurreal]

The two Cuckoo Marans/Australorp pullets that one of our broodys hatched started to lay at just before 18 weeks, one of them at 17 weeks. I was totally shocked because the earliest any of our other pullets laid was 20 weeks and I was shocked by that!

Normally, any pullets we've had didn't lay until 24-26 weeks or longer, so there is a huge range depending on breed and environment. Makes ya crazy! Lol!

 

[RavenEh]

Thanks everyone! I will stop worrying then and just let them be. When my barred rock Leia plumped up so much faster than my EE (the white one) Splash - I was worried there was something wrong but am glad to hear it's just normal.