We have 12 week olds, 2 RIR hens, 4 Speckled Sussex hens and 5 SLW hens (out of 16 chickies ) And are leaving for vacation to England in August. We will be away almost all August and we have our fingers crossed we will either get our first egg before or after our trip, so I was wondering when you all had your first egg laid so we can tell our chicken sitters to watch out for possible egg laying behavior and check for eggs....
My chickens didn't start laying until 24 weeks. However, I'm unsure what it "typical" for a chicken. Have they started squatting yet? Have fun on your vacation!
They have not begun squatting but their faces are starting to turn red, so I thiknk that they are not way offf beginning to lay...
My buff orpington just started last week at 18.5 weeks, maybe a smidge earlier. I have six other chickens of various breeds but no others are laying. The barred rock and SLW look close. No others are squatting.
My production reds (labeled at TSC) are just 15 weeks today. I got my first eggs this week However, I have light brahmas same age and I don't expect them to lay until 24 weeks. Also my EE are 11 weeks, I don't expect them to lay until 20-24 weeks. I think the production girls are early, but not abnormal for the breed. We have 5 production reds, we have gotten 3 different eggs in a two day time period (unsure what I was gifted today, still at work).
My hens each began laying eggs whey they darned well wanted to. It ranged from 18 weeks to 35 weeks. The White Leghorns were the earliest, but they are true "layers" and came from Trader Joe's refrigerated fertile eggs, so they're from a line of production layers.
