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What age do they begin to lay?

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AZGurl

AZGurl

Chirping
Apr 1, 2015
56
11
68
Chandler, AZ
When do they begin to lay? I've been told so many different things by so many that I have no idea. I was initially told 4 months.Then a guy at a feed store said they will start at about 10 weeks with tiny eggs. He said to cook those and feed them back to them. Ewww... Then my dad said they'll start at 6 months! What is it?? I have 2 RIR & 2 Americanas that are 13 weeks old. Thank you!
 
Your dad is probably the closest in the guesses.. Different varieties will lay at different starting points.. My 2 RIR started laying at about 7 months.. That is close to 28 weeks.. I did not keep exact records so time is approximate. Your Americanas should be in about the same time frame. My Bantam Old English game hen did not lay at all for a few years. She is close to 5 years old now and has recently laid a few eggs.
Wishing you BEST and
welcome-byc.gif
 
Years?? UGH, I heard Bantams are mean. Well, I guess I'll follow dad's advice and not even start looking until they are 6 mo old +. Thank you!
 
Not sure where you got the advice that Bantams are mean.. I LUV my lil cuties. I suppose a bantam rooster might be just as aggressive as a standard. Most are on the docile side . I only have hens and all are just PETS . Check my pictures. None of my chickens are aggressive to people or each other. There is of course a pecking order. IT IS IN EVERY FLOCK.
 
Seramas & silkies are not mean. Many standard sized breeds are also available as bantam size, cochins for one, they aren't mean either, or bantam Salmon faverolles,
 
AZGurl said:
When do they begin to lay? I've been told so many different things by so many that I have no idea. I was initially told 4 months.Then a guy at a feed store said they will start at about 10 weeks with tiny eggs. He said to cook those and feed them back to them. Ewww... Then my dad said they'll start at 6 months! What is it?? I have 2 RIR & 2 Americanas that are 13 weeks old. Thank you!
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Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. Most pullets begin laying from 20-25 weeks. Some will start laying a little earlier than that, and occasionally one will not begin laying until a little later than that. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in getting the first eggs in a few weeks.
 
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you about your Bantams. It's just what I've heard and I'm glad to know they're not.
Thank you for advice. Every time I buy eggs, I think how nice it's going to be when mine lay!
 
AZGurl said:
Years?? UGH, I heard Bantams are mean. Well, I guess I'll follow dad's advice and not even start looking until they are 6 mo old +. Thank you!
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Welcome to BYC.
I find bantams adorable. I had several breeds as a child, and now have them again as an adult. Pullets start to lay at various ages. The age isn't set in stone. 6 months is probably the average age to start laying, but I've personally had the age span from 4 months 5 days to over eight months.
I have some now a few days over 4 and a half months and their combs are reddening up (A sign they are approaching laying age) so I hope to find some new eggs soon
What breed you have can influence the age they start laying, but I've found it usually happens within a week or two of their combs turning red.
 

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