What age hens start laying?

[alaskan_crew]

What do you check the vent for?

 

[gypsygirl1421]

I got a 5 red stars on Feb14 and got my first egg from them on May 28. The last two days I have been getting 3 per day, but today I only got one. My EE came at the same time and they have not started laying yet.

 

[Young MacDonald]

So, do most folks agree that the squat starts about 2 weeks before they start laying? Will the squat continue until the time they lay? And does it continue after the first egg too?

 

[Andi]

Smitty's Farm :

Oh yea, I just remember another one ........... Don't forget to check the vent!

I need to resurrect this thread. I also don't know what you mean by checking the vent. I know what a vent is, but why check it and what am I looking for when I do that? My girls are 14 weeks.​

 

[debilorrah]

This information is all over this website

The AVERAGE age a chicken starts laying is 26 weeks. Many start before and a few hold out for a looooong time.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
I need to resurrect this thread. I also don't know what you mean by checking the vent. I know what a vent is, but why check it and what am I looking for when I do that? My girls are 14 weeks.

The "vent" is the place where the egg comes out. Their multi purpose "hole".

 

[Andi]

I guess I need to clarify. I understand information on when hens start to lay is all over this site. Its also all over this thread. I was not inquiring about egg laying. I specifically was requesting information on the vent checking. If you go back and look at what I posted, I said I know what a vent is.

This is what I want to learn:

Why do I need to check the vent and what am I looking for when I check it.

 

[cluck-addict]

A large moist vent is an indicator they are getting ready to, or are laying.

Dry small and puckered and yellowed is an indicator of a non-layer.

 

[Andi]

Thank-you, Courtney! I had thought this was going to be left unanswered. I hadn't found the answer elsewhere either. Some of these seemingly little things can be quite frustrating to those of us that don't know. We all just want to do what's best for our girls.

 

[TsaLaGi Acres]

Quote:
I totally agree!!! I know a lil' but not everything, I can help ppl with those things I DO know, but I also hope to learn things from these forums (as well as make some chicken friends). What someone deems as 'known' is not always, and is often a BIG help to those who DON'T!! Is it so hard to take a few seconds to post a few tips or tricks that you have done for yrs just to help someone else?

Now on that note!! I do love this forum because MOST ppl on here are super friendly and helpful and even if someone doesn't know the answer they have a sense of humor to lighten the mood... there is no need to treat ppl here with hateful or arrogant ignorance!! For those of you who feel the need to post with condescending or hateful remarks ... please just refrain from posting at all... that is not what this forum is about.