When do white leghorns start to lay, on average?

[ElijahandIsa'schicks]

We have three chickens ... one Red Sex Link and two white leghorns. The Red Sex Link started laying about three weeks ago, at 17 weeks old. But so far, at almost 21 weeks, our white leghorns haven't started.

The leghorns have started to nustle down in some holes they make in the dirt (they are mostly free range, right now) and the do have very large, bright red waddles and combs. But so far, no eggs!

Any thoughts?

Rebecca

 

[jossanne]

My first leghorn egg last year came from a 16-week-old pullet. She laid every day for 21 days before she got an impacted crop from eating weeds and had to be fixed. Three days later, she started laying daily again.

We had 4 other white leghorns who were some months younger, and they didn't start laying til 19 or 20 weeks. So I think my 16wk girl was a bit unusual.