Should they be laying?

[Poultrybonkers]

I got two amber links in january should they be laying by now? Does this breed take longer to lay?

 

[AlienChick]

I don't know about amber links; however, most chickens begin laying between 18-21 weeks old.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Amber Links aren't a breed, they are a cross. Yes, they should be laying by now. Diet, development and other factors come into play. Do they free range? Could you have eggs being laid elsewhere?

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Amber Links aren't a breed, they are a cross.  Yes, they should be laying by now.  Diet, development and other factors come into play.  Do they free range?  Could you have eggs being laid elsewhere?

I said the wrong month i got them on leap day would that make a difference? They do free range. But i looked in my yard never found any.

 

[Fred's Hens]

You might try this suggestion, for what it is worth to you.

I never let Point of Lay pullets free range. Depending on breeding, that is 17 weeks for early layers up to 26 weeks for later beginners. You can tell when they are about to lay by their bodies features and behaviors. Their faces will redden and the combs and wattles will spurt out and darken to a deep red. They'll squat for you, at least some will, when you startle them or approach them as if you were a rooster looking to breed.

At this age, the week of beginning laying, I do not allow them to free range. I want them fixated on the nest. They need to figure that out. It takes a few weeks sometimes before everyone is laying and everyone is laying where they should. Yes, golf balls as a visual clue seem to work.

I only let them out for some exercise and roaming after 5 pm. They still get a good 3 hours of "recess time", but there' not nearly as much chance of laying at that hour.
Once I am confident all the pullets have mastered the laying nests, then I gradually increase their free time. I'm frankly too old for Easter egg hunts.
Hope that helps.