1. At what age do sex-linked leghorns stop laying? 2. At what age do cochins and Easter eggers start laying?
I've had red sex links still laying at 4-5 years. Not as much, maybe 3 eggs a week, but still laying and nice huge eggs. Shells did get thinner, though, even with feeding shells back and oyster shell free choice. Easter eggers usually lay in the 20 week range, give or take. Cochins can be a bit slower to mature, especially the large fowl varieties. More like the 25 week range.
My Easter Eggers are around 24 weeks and have not started laying. My heritage Ameraucana started Sunday though and they're supposed to take forever to mature. My large fowl Cochin is the same age and nowhere near ready to lay.
My EE didnt start laying until week 30 or 31. It really depends on the individual bird and the lines it comes from, and what season it is, usually it takes longer in the winter and fall because of less daylight.
Among my 14 hens (25 weeks old today), two are easter eggers. One of them layed their first egg yesterday. Pretty aqua color and was about twice the size of the other's first ones. Was so excited to see it in the nest. Cant' wait for the second one to lay. Out of the others, three to four have started within the last three weeks. For sure one is a Dominique, one is a Light Brahma and the other is either a Golden Campine or an Ancona. I have three Cochins, but their combs and waddles are not very bright yet, so may be a while for them.
My girls are all around 28 weeks. We got a few cochin eggs, very small, and now everybody has stopped laying. By everybody I mean 3 cuckoo marans (various ages) , 1 leghorn, (1 1/2 years) 3 cochin mixes (38 weeks) , 1 elderly brahma, 5 easter eggers (28 weeks) 3 ducks (various ages), and a guinea hen. We put a light in the shed about a week ago, but my hens are so silly and undisciplined it's hard to know if they are not laying or if they are just hiding their eggs. Also, my leghorn lost all her tail feathers about 2 weeks ago. They are growing back now but they look like a little bunny tail. News flash--My son just came in the house with 1 cochin egg. Oh goody--lets have a feast!
