When can I expect my pullets to start laying?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I have 6 pullets, all of which are about 2mo. Their feed switches a bit, depending on what I can find in store. Right now they are eating an All Flock feed. Their breeds are: Olive Egger, Lavender Orpington, Dark Brahma, Black Australorp, Cuckoo Marans, and Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte. One of each. The Black Australorp might be a week younger than the rest, if that matters. That being said, when can I expect my first eggs from these girls? Will they start laying by the end of this summer? What month can I expect eggs?

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Hi, most pullets start laying sometime between 5-6 months. They can lay as early as 4 months or as late as 8 months or longer in some cases. From my experience, the lighter breeds usually start laying before the heavier breeds. I'd expect that you'd have eggs by late summer/early fall.

 

[fluffycrow]

When you’ve given up, convinced yourself that you magically got all the pullets that will never lay, and then some .

Or at least, that’s what it feels like. There’s really no exact way of knowing. I’ve had pullets lay as early as three and a half months, and have heard of cases where the first egg didn’t come until the pullet was ten months old (or older). The average age here is 5-6 months.

That depends on a lot of factors, and will surely be different for you. Some of the breeds you mentioned are known for taking longer to mature. That being said, that isn’t always the case, especially if they are hatchery birds.

I too would imagine you’d have your first eggs by the end of the summer, but some might take longer

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Our 9 BLK AUS started at 16 wks and finished at 20, no special feed just good solid birds and fortunate.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

What month can I expect eggs?

It won't be possible to give an exact answer. All birds are different.

I can give an example with my pullets. But it's an example, not a guarantee.
My flock is 6 months (23.5 weeks)
Most of my pullets had their first eggs at 18-22 weeks (and I didn't see who or when for most of them)

Both you and I have at least one Marans, Orpington, Wyandotte, and Brahma. So I'll discuss those.

Light Brahma - 23 weeks (I think that's early)

Silver Laced Wyandotte - not laying yet? (I could be wrong, but I've never noticed her in a nest box.)

Lavender Orpington - 18-22 weeks

Marans... I have 3
Golden Cuckoo Marans - 18-22
Splash Marans #2 - 18-22
Splash Marans #1 ‐ 17.5 weeks (I think that's early, but she is smaller than the other Marans)

If you assume your chicks were hatched, say, April 1st? I'd say the first might lay in August at the earliest.
But with that being the colder season, some birds just hault egg production even if they've never had an egg.

*edit to add
It isn't impossible that they'll lay early, or lay through the winter even. This is more of a "well, you might be disappointed, but sometimes..."
As long as your nests are ready before, and you have calcium for them. I almost didn't have my nests done in time.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Turns out my Wyandotte is laying. This might be early for this breed, depending on the genetics they have.

Silver Laced Wyandotte - ~24 weeks

One of my other pullets has gone broody and is occupying 1 specific box and doesn't go to any other boxes.
I have 13 pullets. I've been getting 12 eggs. None from broody, none in her box from anybody, and broody doesn't go to ANY box except for the one she's in.
Plus, saw the Wyandotte in the box. No egg when she went in, fresh egg in that box after she left the coop.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

All three of my pullets are from the same hatch date, although different breeds.

The Easter Egger just started, with her first intact small egg a day before she turned 19 weeks. The other two have small combs and wattles that have turned blazing red in the last 2-3 weeks. All three now squat for me, first the EE a week ago and the other two (Buff Orpington and Barred Rock) in the last few days.

I’m sort of expecting the BO to go last, but I wouldn’t bet any money on it.

 

[LeucadiaCoop]

My Easter egger and sapphire gem started at 18 weeks. My barred rock around 19-20 weeks. Still waiting on my BO and lavender Orpington who are 20 weeks.

 

[kabuky]

When you’ve given up, convinced yourself that you magically got all the pullets that will never lay, and then some .

I don't expect eggs until the following Spring after buying the pullets. I'm never disappointed!

 

[Mrs. K]

About 4 weeks after bright red, swollen combs show up, about 2 weeks after they squat give or take 3 weeks either way.

Mrs K