Topic of the Week - When Do Pullets Begin Laying?

[rottlady]

I've been told hatchery and barnyard mixes lay early heritage breeds and breeder raised birds lay later
I have 7 hens 15 - 25/26 weeks old and they started from 18.5 - 24 weeks the one that laid at 18.5 though laid once and nothing since so not really counting that mine are breeder bred cream Legbar, Barnevelder and Delaware

 

[chickB26]

I have 14 Red Star hens. One started laying about 17 weeks and each day another one would lay. They will be 19 weeks on Tuesday and so far 9 have started laying. Just 5 more to go. They are also laying large eggs. Yesterday I had a double yoke.

We have 10 ISA BROWN pullet, 2 distinct color groups. Yesterday they were 5mo old and I found 3 eggs, 2 in one nest in the AM and the 3rd egg in the same nest in the afternoon. I have no idea who laid them! Today I found an egg, same nest, later in the morning. All the girls look alike, within their respective color group altho one group have redder combs & wattles. Is there a way to figure out who is being productive? Thanks!

 

[mamatink7]

Usually around 16 weeks or so.

that seems awfully early to expect eggs. Ive heard of some laying early, but not that early. Even my first was 1 day before 18 weeks and that was a golden comet.

 

[mamatink7]

Do your pullets lay at different times of the day? Ours seem to lay in the morning. We check throughout day, just in case. I'm sure things will spread out when all the 19 pullets lay right now only 5 or 6 do.

 

[Hens rule]

that seems awfully early to expect eggs. Ive heard of some laying early, but not that early. Even my first was 1 day before 18 weeks and that was a golden comet.

Oh, Okay. My friend had a really early layer who was about 16 1/2 weeks.

 

[chickB26]

So far, yes, I am just reading The Chicken Encyclopedia by Gail Damerow, borrowed from the library. Check it out, pg 98.

 

[mamatink7]

So far, yes, I am just reading The Chicken Encyclopedia by Gail Damerow, borrowed from the library. Check it out, pg 98.

thank you. I believe we have that one! Kids have kidnapped it.

 

[Fowlfellow]

Have 12 barred rocks some started laying sporadically at 18 weeks others started every week till 22 weeks.

 

[Maerzie]

I also have Red Star hens, for the first time. I had previously had Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks, though my preferred breed is the White Rock, because they clean up so much nicer than the darker feathered hens. I have one free-loader, over a year old, which has never laid an egg, to my knowledge, and one of these Red Stars must be mentally retarded, as she lays her eggs wherever she is, and has only rarely laid an egg IN a nest. I find her eggs beneath the roost, in the manure, or anywhere else on the floor, and also, willy nilly places out in the yard, as they all free range. It's as if she has never figured out the difference between the pressure of the egg from the pressure of elimination.I wonder if anyone else has had a hen, as confused as this one? Other than that, they are very nice, calm chickens, not broody at all, dependably laying large, brown eggs,year round, and with very good feed conversion, as they love hunting for bugs and other goodies, on their own.

 

[wild chick]

My hatchery Wyandottes were born June 20th, which puts them at their first laying dates in Dec/Jan - since that's in the dead of winter should I just not even count on eggs until spring? This is my first chicken-raising experience and I'm pleased to say I have 100% of what I started with!