What age did your hens lay their first egg?

[Wfpendragon]

Hey y'all, I was wondering what age did your pullets give you their first egg? I am eagerly anticipating the time when our 12 chickens will come into lay.

Already got their nest box built and stocked with straw and dummy eggs. The first batch of pullets just turned 15 weeks Wednesday and the second batch are 14 weeks today. We have a mix of barred rocks, red stars, a rhode island red, wyandottes, brahma, sussex and california white. Post the age at which you got your first egg from your hens!

 

[TheTwoRoos]

4,5,6 months.Some may even lay 3 and a half minths,but doubtful.

 

[PocketAcesMom]

I have 7 Red Sex Link hens. They are 16 weeks. One started laying last week at 15 weeks and she has been consistently giving me eggs. She took a day off over the weekend. One laid an egg this weekend right at the start of 16 weeks but that was 2 days ago and she's not laid again. Another acted like she was going to give me an egg today. Caused a racket, pulled nesting material on her back, was bearing down, but never laid. I had one do that yesterday as well (a different one) and even checked to make sure she wasn't egg bound. I think they are practicing. The breed I have is known for starting early though. I hear that for most chickens it's between 20-24 weeks. I'll be interested to hear what others say because I'm a total rookie.

 

[pauleberly]

I have 7 Red Sex Link hens. They are 16 weeks. One started laying last week at 15 weeks and she has been consistently giving me eggs. She took a day off over the weekend. One laid an egg this weekend right at the start of 16 weeks but that was 2 days ago and she's not laid again. Another acted like she was going to give me an egg today. Caused a racket, pulled nesting material on her back, was bearing down, but never laid. I had one do that yesterday as well (a different one) and even checked to make sure she wasn't egg bound. I think they are practicing. The breed I have is known for starting early though. I hear that for most chickens it's between 20-24 weeks. I'll be interested to hear what others say because I'm a total rookie.

I have some sexlinks that are 15-16 weeks as well. I'm not sure if she's getting ready. I posted videos here, can you tell me if that's what yours did

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1116136/couple-of-random-noobie-questions#post_17192776

 

[PocketAcesMom]

Oh yes, she's squatting. It won't be too long now. I had one thT started laying about 5 days later though most of my others haven't started laying quite yet. She looks just like a few of my sex-linked hens.

 

[AuntNomi]

My Leghorns, BSL, and RSL all started fast after they were 5 months old. My English orpingtons, wyandottes, welsummers, and ameraucanas started between 6-7 months. I have a Marans that is going on 8 months that is not laying yet so hopefully anyday now. I also had a Black Astralorpe that I rehomed when she was 13 months because she had never layed an egg at all. I do not know if she ever started or not tho.
Now my next flock I have a few leghorns, barred rocks, buff orpington, and wyandotte. They are just now 18 weeks on the leghorns, and the others are 20 weeks so will be soon for them.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Last year's Easter Eggers and OEGB began laying at 5.5 months.
Their January daughters began laying at 5 months.
A few may have started sooner but I didn't occur to me that new layers may be the reason for the smaller eggs I couldn't recognize...

I see the February daughters in the nest boxes, but I have no idea if they're laying unless I catch them in the act.

The Silkie crosses were somewhere in the 5-6 month range.
No offspring being kept from them.


The first eggs are exciting!! I hope you have great luck with your pullets!!!

 

[Spartan22]

My EE just started laying yesterday @exactly 18 wks (Wednesday). Though my first batch of 3 leghorns started laying @16 wks, most followed @20-22 wks.

 

[pauleberly]

Is there anything special I need to do? Like lock her in the coop so she uses the nearing boxes? Or will instinct tell them to use t automatically?

 

[Spartan22]

Is there anything special I need to do? Like lock her in the coop so she uses the nearing boxes? Or will instinct tell them to use t automatically?

It will help to confined them a day or two if they were not used to being in the coop so they will use the nests instead of the run or the free range world for finding a spot to lay eggs. I used ceramic eggs in the nests as a "use this nest" spot.