What Signs Do I Look for to Signal Start of Egg Laying

[sfmac]

My barred rocks were hatched early June and the Rhode Island Reds in early July. So I should start to be watching for egg laying from the barred rocks around the beginning of October and from the reds the beginning of November, no?

Are there signs/behaviors that can tip me off?

 

[jossanne]

My two barred rocks hatched March 29, and we just started getting eggs from the first one three weeks ago at 20 weeks. The second one just started laying at 23 weeks. Their combs and waddles brighten up quite a bit and grow some. They start showing interest in the nesting box, and exploring it occasionally.

I would think you might be a month early in expecting eggs, though you may have a couple of early layers.

 

[holliewould]

My RIR's were hatched march 15th and only one of them laid her first egg yesterday. So 5 1/2 months old for mine and still waiting on the other.

 

[OHMYCHICKIES]

My BR's were hatched early May and they are showing signs. They squat everytime you put your hand out to pet them.

 

[JSC]

Right before ours started laying,their appetite seemed to really increase. We have 15 girls and we are getting 9 eggs one day and 6 the next so we are figuring they are laying every other day. All fifteen were born the last week of Feb.

 

[setter4]

Quote:
Yep, squatting and flaring wings when you pet them and their combs and wattles got BRIGHT red.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Their vents will turn pink and moist. right now if you look they'll likely be pale yellow-ish, dry, and puckered. That's how my girls' vents look, anyway. They were all hatched in the end of May, so I'm hoping for eggs starting sometime in October.

Remember that winter light levels will reduce laying. If you want a regular supply of eggs over the winter months you'll need to supply extra light. There are a lot of "to light or not to light" discussions and I'm sure that those debates will flare up again in the coming month as daylight shortens and laying tapers off.

We put a clear roof on the coop and plan not to light the coop.

 

[sfmac]

OK.

So if it would normally be another month or two anyway and light levels are dropping (I don't plan to provide artificial light), it may be even into mid winter when light levels start increasing again.

 

[jossanne]

Quote:
Where do you live? I'm in southern NM, and it stays light longer here than a lot of the country during the winter days. My hens lay quite a bit during the winter, and we've never given supplemental light.

 

[sfmac]

I live in New Hampshire. By late December it is full dark before 6pm. By late June, however, it is still quite light until just after 9pm.