When did your hens start laying??

[Chickenkate17]

Quote:
Those are my breeds

Here are photos, just taken! Personally, I think my BR is going to be first.

 

[mdpfeifer]

I have 2 buff orpingtons, 1 light brahma and 1 EE.
My first to lay way Lulu (buff orpington) at 24 1/2 weeks, then Arial my EE at 26 1/2 weeks, then Oreo my light brahma at one day shy of 27 weeks and finally Strawberry my other buff orpington at 27 weeks. My last 3 all laid their first egg within 4 days of each other even though they were different breeds, which just happened recently and today I had 4 eggs, one from each of them, for the first time

 

[NatureLove11]

1 of my 9 white leghorns just started to lay at 19 weeks, 1 of my red and 1 black sexlink just started to lay at 20 weeks and thats out of 8

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I have three EEs; 23 weeks; still no eggs.

I'm hoping to have some eggs by new years.

I'm probably not going to see any for another few weeks.

 

[Count Orloff]

Quote:
Mine are about the same age and I also just wired up my coop for lighting earlier this week. Does anybody know how long it should take for the birds to get "tricked" into thinking that the day lengths are longer again so that they will start laying? I'm making sure they have clean water, scratch grains, and crushed oyster shell also.

 

[Cowgirl71]

Are you sure your Barred Rock doesn't have a stash of eggs somewhere that's she's been hiding from you? She sure looks like she's laying (huge bright red comb). I'd say she either has a secret stash or she'll start laying within a few days.

Your EE and SS look like they may be laying and hiding their eggs too (especially the EE). If not, then they look real close to laying too. They'll probably start laying within a few weeks.

Are any of them squatting for you?

They're all very pretty girls!

 

[lynnemabry]

One of my 24 wk BR just started to lay 2 days ago. Saw her in the nest box this morning. I have 1 more mystery layer that also started to lay Weds. Either is 1 of the other BR 2 EE or cochin. The EE and cochin are about a month old.

Have my peeps makes me very happy!
Every day is like Christmas with them. I enjoy them enough without the eggs. Those are a gift they give us every day. Makes me smile.

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
I dunno... I have a friend whose barred rock is probably a week older than mine (hatched last week of March), and her comb and wattles have been RED and HUGE since August. This barred rock with the big comb and wattles hasn't even so much as sung an egg song or squatted, much less laid an egg. My barred rock didn't lay until 35 weeks after singing egg song for 2 months and squatting for 3 weeks! And she only developed comb/wattles literally within a week of laying her first egg! I mean, poor girl looked bald with no comb, and I was certain I had a dud chicken.

I'm just saying, it varies so much from chicken to chicken, even within the same breed. Hopefully someone will lay you an egg soon, regardless of who it is! I'm just saying, comb and wattles is supposed to be a sign of readiness to lay, but it is not always the case. Just like with humans, sometimes physiology varies. Good luck and I hope you get eggs soon!

 

[hokankai]

2 of mine started at 23 weeks and another just started this morning at 24 weeks...still have 5 more though!

 

[Morgan7782]

My Brahma started about 8 months old or so. The Wyandotte started around 7-8 months. I have a 9 month old Barred Rock, 9 month old Easter Egger, and another 7-8 month old Wyandotte who have not laid an egg or done any close to laying signs except red combs, but the barred rock's comb isn't that big yet, it's getting there though.