Topic of the Week - When Do Pullets Begin Laying?

[RealChickenHead]

My light brahma started laying 2 weeks ago at 20 weeks old. She laid for 11 days straight, took one day off and is back at it.

My rhode island red laid her first egg last week but hasn't laid any since (21 weeks) and my black australorp laid her first egg yesterday!

 

[sawilliams]

Never... just accepted it now they will never lay for you...

OK but really we all know the details

Comb
Squatting
Around 20 weeks

Or you could be like me with that 1 with a red comb at about 25 weeks or so didn't lay her first egg till 9 months at least. My clue with her (besides being my first green egg) her temperament changed. She went from sitting in the back of the run shyingredients from the group to suddenly the first in the mix for treats to be let out. You name it. It was clear she took her place in the flock.


But then again I have another 2+ months of laying she still has a pink comb. It isn't big like the others and never got its red. If I hadn't seen her lay with my own eyes I still don't think I would believe it.

 

[AmieD]

One of my white leghorn girls, Rosey, laid her first egg today! I was working in the coop and she was hanging around, going in and out of the nesting boxes. I went into my other coop and heard her sing the full egg song. I waited and she didn't come out, so I opened the nesting box and sure enough, a little white egg. We were super-excited. I have a few dozen store bought eggs in the fridge and I am hoping they will be the last I buy!

 

[nanasacres]

One of my white leghorn girls, Rosey, laid her first egg today! I was working in the coop and she was hanging around, going in and out of the nesting boxes. I went into my other coop and heard her sing the full egg song. I waited and she didn't come out, so I opened the nesting box and sure enough, a little white egg. We were super-excited. I have a few dozen store bought eggs in the fridge and I am hoping they will be the last I buy!

Congratulations! I'm thrilled for you. )

 

[rottlady]

Funny thing my Legbar girls did the egg song thing for a long time in the weeks before they started laying but since they started laying they don't do it I've been right there when either of them or the Barnevelder has laid and all is quiet

 

[Ljc01]

I am so jealous! I have 2 EE's that are suppose to be 22 weeks and 2 Astralorp's that are suppose to be 21 weeks old. That what the rancher I got them from said, but they could be a little younger. They were just feathered out enough to but the in the coop when I got them.
So, my older group is starting to molt and no eggs from the youngsters, so I had to buy eggs today!

 

[Murphy212]

I have 4 Americaunas and 2 Buff Orpingtons who are 21 weeks old. Some of them started laying about 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I got 2 very small eggs from the Buffs and 2 very small blue eggs from the Americaunas (don't know which). My real question is when will the eggs get to at least large size instead of super small? These eggs are so small it takes 2 of them to equal one large!
I also have 6 3 year old chickens who lay only occasionally. Two Americaunas who have not laid at all since May and 4 others (1 each Rhode Island Red, Silver laced Wyandotte, Barred Rock, Black Austroplorp) who lay only every now and then. When these girls started laying 3 years ago, their eggs were full size from the beginning, so these small eggs are new to me.
Thanks for any info.
Murphy

 

[tampachick]

Is that pullet above one of your flock? Because if so, someone mislabeled a bird somewhere! She's not any of the breeds mentioned above, but rather an Easter Egger.

Edit: Also, Welcome to BYC! Feel free to introduce yourself in the New Member Introductions section of the forum.

You are right QueenMisha. 3520, somehow you accidentally got a picture of my girl, Peaches, which was an Ameracauna (she sadly died 4 nights ago in my arms).

Karen

 

[dunnmom]

I hear it depends on the individual. I have 3 Buff O's in lay so far. One has been laying for 3 weeks, and her eggs are still small to medium. One of the others started laying large to extra large eggs from the get go. Same breed, hatch mates, so my guess based on my experience and from threads I've read about it is that it's a chicken by chicken thing and it could take awhile of, um, stretching to get full size eggs. I've just gotten used to using mostly medium-ish eggs, no harm done. Haven't had to buy eggs in 2 weeks.

 

[AmandaMBG]

So I have one girl laying and her eggs are small. She has laid 6 eggs and 1 egg was double yolker and close to a normal sized egg. I was out in the yard a lot the day she laid it and was in the nest box for half a day trying to get that thing out of her. I felt bad. I just figure they will lay larger eggs when they are ready too.

I have 4 Americaunas and 2 Buff Orpingtons who are 21 weeks old. Some of them started laying about 2 weeks ago.  Yesterday I got 2 very small eggs from the Buffs and 2 very small blue eggs from the Americaunas (don't know which).  My real question is when will the eggs get to at least large size instead of super small?  These eggs are so small it takes 2 of them to equal one large!
I also have 6 3 year old chickens who lay only occasionally.  Two Americaunas who have not laid at all since May and 4 others (1 each Rhode Island Red, Silver laced Wyandotte, Barred Rock, Black Austroplorp) who lay only every now and then. When these girls started laying 3 years ago, their eggs were full size from the beginning, so these small eggs are new to me.
Thanks for any info.
Murphy