Their first egg

[richje100]

My 4 hens are about 15-16wks old.
checked on them this morning & **surprise** the first egg.
will the others start copying do you think?

 

[b.hromada]

It won't be long now. Congrats on your very first egg!

 

[TXmom]

Wow, they are YOUNG to start laying! Congratulations on your beautiful brown egg

I got my first brown egg when mine were 19.5 weeks...then that crazy chicken didn't lay another egg for a whole week....longest week of my life...LOL. Now I get 5-6 a day and I LOVE it.

 

[Mahonri]

That's young! Looks like my Black Sex link's eggs. She didn't start until the day she turned 20 weeks.

 

[SunshineSilkies]

Wow!!!1 That is early for them to be laying....even my RIR start at about 22 weeks....good lookin egg!

 

[richje100]

thanks for the replies guys.
my 2 4yr olds were excited to go into the shed & pick up the first egg.
wonder if there'll be any tomorrow?

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

thats amazing . most hens wont lay until they are about 24 weeks old. what breed is your hen?

 

[richje100]

i was told they are rhode island reds heres a pic.
when i bought them the farm said they we 12wks old. do they look older than 15-16wks?

 

[BioBob]

Hey Richje:

Many thanks for the pic! I have been trying to "figger" out when my hens would begin to lay, and the pic you posted makes me think I am doing something WRONG!

My girls (the 6 RIR's) have taller combs, wattles growing, all dark red, and are about 23 weeks old. I am feeding a high (20%) protein layer,
ACV +Garlic in their water, Yogurt almost every day (embellished with bird seed) and on the days they don't get their yogurt they get Cantaloupe or Watermelon.

They sound happy, but are still reluctant to allow me to pet them. They will eat out of my hand (forgot to tell you about the bread), but seem to be fearful of my hand when there is no food in it.

My Black Sex-Link is beginning to do the "squat" (she is 3-6 weeks older than the RIR's), and I'm hopeful she will show the others how it is done.

Thanks again for the Pic.

Bob

 

[TXmom]

My RIR was much darker red than that...could they be Production Reds maybe? Do you have other pullets with bigger, redder combs and wattles? I would think that pullet is not ready to lay yet...but I'm only speaking of my personal experience...