what clues are there to know when a chicken is going to start laying eggs

[subhanalah]

On average, how long until an Orpington starts to lay.  My Lav Orps are a long way off, but I'm curious.  I read they were very slow to mature due to their massive size.

I think I've been told it's between 6-8 months.

 

[Buffmama]

My girl started right on 21 weeks. The first week of Sept. 2013. The earliest I have read was 18 weeks.

 

[mandtroof]

I read that the girls always get really red when the are about to lay? Is this always the case?

 

[subhanalah]

I read that the girls always get really red when the are about to lay? Is this always the case?

one of mine could still! Use some reddening but she's laying.

 

[dandeliondragon]

The ceramic eggs helped i have 6 chickens in total and to a surprise we got 3 instead of 1 or 2 it was in a different nesting box, and i have 2 RIR and only 1 lays i guess the other one dose 2!

 

[jtn42248]

All my hens were hatched on Feb. 6th so they are 20 wks. old today. On 6/13 we got our first egg (Picture below)

So that makes the first egg at 18 weeks. That hen was not ready to begin to lay and on the same day tried to "lay" two more eggs at the same time resulting in very serious prolapse and having to put her down.

So, today's surprise, at exactly 20 weeks of age, of a second egg (identical to the first one, very small but otherwise perfect) is, we hope, a portent of great things to come.

If everyone is on pretty much the same time table we should be getting bunches of eggs (we have 24 hens in this group) daily pretty soon.

 

[Melnurse]

On average, how long until an Orpington starts to lay. My Lav Orps are a long way off, but I'm curious. I read they were very slow to mature due to their massive size.

we have two buff Orpingtons, and the smaller of the two is the one that is laying now. They were all born 1/31 and her first egg was Tuesday 6/24. Not even 5 months. The bigger buff O. does not seem to be interested in laying yet at all. No scratching, squatting or other behavior.

 

[jtn42248]

Right at 20-21 weeks...right on time. You should see more activity from everyone in the next week or so.

 

[TeaChick]

DS has a pullet that's 21 weeks old day after tomorrow.
He said she was looking in the bushes and in the main coop (where she doesn't sleep) and under the shed, apparently looking for a place to lay.
He's super excited. =)

 

[mandtroof]

All my hens were hatched on Feb. 6th so they are 20 wks. old today. On 6/13 we got our first egg (Picture below) So that makes the first egg at 18 weeks. That hen was not ready to begin to lay and on the same day tried to "lay" two more eggs at the same time resulting in very serious prolapse and having to put her down. So, today's surprise, at exactly 20 weeks of age, of a second egg (identical to the first one, very small but otherwise perfect) is, we hope, a portent of great things to come. If everyone is on pretty much the same time table we should be getting bunches of eggs (we have 24 hens in this group) daily pretty soon.

I am getting worried about my girl liberty, she keeps laying down and is just not acting right, we got her 1st or 2nd week of March. Is there anyway she could be trying to lay too early?