when should I expect to get eggs?

[mychickens]

I have 3 RIR and 3 Barred Rocks that are about 16 weeks old. When should I expect my 1st egg and will that fact that fall is here and winter comming mean that I won't get eggs until spring?

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Could be any time now. They'll lay when they are ready. If they get 14 hours of light they should lay all winter. Both my RIR and BR have layed through the winter. The BR did slow down a bit. The RIR started laying during the winter and has layed 6/week since.

Good luck

Imp

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Different birds (even the same breeds) will lay at different ages.. My first Barred Rock layed at 24 weeks old , the other two at 26 weeks. My RIRs were 26-27 weeks old.. It was well worth the wait.. I am now getting 7eggs daily from 8 brown egg layers... Of course, my EE(24 weeks old) and Ameraucanas (28weeks old) haven't laid at all!

I have heard many people say their chickens started to lay at 20weeks.. It's a guessing game, as to when the girls will lay...

 

[Preservation Acres]

You'll start getting eggs about one week after you've completely given up on getting eggs.

 

[amyrobynne]

I have 3 Barred Rocks -- two started laying at 18 weeks and the third at 19 weeks. Still waiting for my 20 weeks Americaunas to join them, though.

 

[ella]

18 to 20 weeks is the earliest you could expect them. But the early layers tend to burn out early and pay with health problems later in life. It's what many hatcheries breed for, early heavy production. It doesn't matter to them that the hens burn out at 2 or 3 years old. If you're looking at your hens as pets it becomes a problem.

I wouldn't push them into production with artificial light over the winter unless you plan to replace them in a year.