When do your chickens begin laying eggs in spring?

[-Kiwi-]

I'M WAAAAAAAIIIIIIITTTTTING! Chick fever has arrived, but no eggs yet! When do your hens usually begin laying?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

March or April if I'm lucky, but they usually lay through winter too

 

[MysteryChicken]

Mine lay through winter, except my Red JungleFowl/American Game cross hens.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'M WAAAAAAAIIIIIIITTTTTING! Chick fever has arrived, but no eggs yet! When do your hens usually begin laying?

Depends on the age and breed of bird and also your location in the world (lay hormone is LIGHT dependent).. once maturity hits if nutrients are adequate then it's up to the light and the the genetics... even from the same parents.. my sister and I matured at different rates.

My June last year hatched birds from last year are already laying.

My molting birds have *usually* started laying already as well. Noting our birds don't seem to read all of our books about what they should do or when.. some molt at 9 months.. and other may wait to start until now to start molting!

My August last year chicks are not yet laying and is well indicated by the color of their comb.

First year birds often lay through the winter and keep on until the following spring.

My Feb hatched chicks USUALLY lay around 4th of July.

Rarely by 16 weeks, some by 18 weeks, many by 20-24 weeks old if maturing as day light is increasing.. And often at least a month later than that if maturing in the fall/winter.

Since making the switch full time to Flock Raiser with oyster shell on the side and NEVER using "layer" again.. my older birds have less harsh molts and return to lay sooner.. they no longer lose their personality and withdrawal as they did before.. Also, more nutrients on board for the hens equals more micro nutrients (not protein/fat) going into the egg my family is consuming.

As for chick fever.. eggs are in the bator NOW!

But when I had it bad a month or so ago.. I borrowed eggs from a local friend.. to run a "test hatch"!

 

[EverV]

Mine never stop!

 

[SnootyHen]

4 of mine never stopped (Leghorn, Mystic Marans, GLW and Russian Orloff). 2 haven't layed since November 30th (Welsummer and Barenvelder) and one from that flock still hasn't started laying (Black laced red Wyandotte). These ladies are mid-March hatches.

My late September hatched babies just popped out little tiny baby combs. I am thinking maybe we'll have enough light in another month for them to start thinking about it.

 

[Clap p 1]

I have one girl that is 6 months and just laye d her first egg. Orpington. Two Bresse that laye d first egg yesterday at 5 months. Go figure.