When can I expect an egg?

[katwomankrj]

From a Golden Laced Polish. She is apx 4.5 months old.

 

[ashlierami]

From a Golden Laced Polish. She is apx 4.5 months old.

Laying usually begins around 20 weeks. Some hens take up to 26 weeks before they start to lay. This will depend on your hen, her diet, and how much sun she gets a day. Providing layer feed or supplemental calcium such as oyster shells may jumpstart this process.

 

[Dona Worry]

My polish all waited a solid six months and a bit to lay, I have a baby now that is 4 months and a bit, and she doesn't look anywhere near ready yet.
I think they are a late blooming breed.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

My buff orpington laid her first egg at about 22 weeks.
It also depends on the breed.

 

[NoodlesMama]

It can vary a bit from breed to breed and even amoung individuals. I don’t keep polish but my silver laced Wyandotte laid her first egg at 21 weeks exactly.

 

[katwomankrj]

Mine get a high protein diet, snacks are live crickets, mealworms, scratch, fresh vegies and fruits. My GL Polish is about 18ish weeks I think at this point. I have an Ameraucana mix that is about 14 weeks. I cant wait to get an egg! Darn expensive first egg lol!! They do have clam shell available at all times. Do I wait until they start laying to give layer feed? What is different about it vs my All Flock high protein feed?

 

[GC-Raptor]

They do have clam shell available at all times. Do I wait until they start laying to give layer feed? What is different about it vs my All Flock high protein feed?

It's best to hold off on layers feed till POL point of lay, after 18 weeks of age. The difference between All-Flock feed and a typical layers feed is Protein and Calcium. Feeding layers feed will not make a pullet lay sooner.
Keep them on the All-Flock feed and offer the Oyster Shells, Clam Shell.
When all are at POL combs wattles red and swollen, squatting when you put your hand over them and you get that first egg. Switch to layers feed.
I feed a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower 18% or a All-Flock/Flock Raiser feed 20% after 10 weeks throughout adulthood, with Oyster Shells separately. .
I've never heard of crushed clam shells for calcium. GC

 

[katwomankrj]

Maybe its Oyster shell, they have whatever it is they need for the calcium. Thanks for the info that helps!