When will I get eggs?

[Rachel5589]

I have 7 hens that I got at the beginning of August 2018. They were a few days old when I got them. 2 rhode island red, 2 black star, 2 orpington, and 1 barred rock. (My other barred rock turned out to be a rooster) so since they are around normal egg laying age, I'm wondering everybody's experience with when they first lay...will it be delayed because we are in the middle of winter? I check the laying boxes every day hoping to see an egg. Also, when they first lay will they know to lay in the nest box? This is my first time owning or being around chickens so any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[Doc7]

My hens from June 6th had their first eggs between Nov 15 and Dec 25.

Yours could
Be January 15- Feb 15. Could be tomorrow, could be March. Watch and wait

4 of my 6 laid every egg in the box including first egg. Hen #2 laid her first 5 eggs on a nest she made in the pine shavings under the roost but then she switched to the nest box before I had time to train her to do so. I had golf balls in my nest box since October and still have them there now.

Hen number 6 to start laying dropped her first egg in the run and has laid every egg in the box since then.

I had 10 eggs in November and 99 in December. In January so far I have had 4 or 5 every day. They are coming soon!

 

[Doc7]

A typical day (white store egg shown for comparison)

The eggs are usually sparkly clean. Apparently I took nest box photos on a day in which the run was particularly
Muddy from a rainstorm.

 

[Rachel5589]

I have had golf balls in a few nest boxes for the past month hoping that'll help them know where to lay. Thank you for the reply.

My hens from June 6th had their first eggs between Nov 15 and Dec 25.

Yours could
Be January 15- Feb 15. Could be tomorrow, could be March. Watch and wait

4 of my 6 laid every egg in the box including first egg. Hen #2 laid her first 5 eggs on a nest she made in the pine shavings under the roost but then she switched to the nest box before I had time to train her to do so. I had golf balls in my nest box since October and still have them there now.

Hen number 6 to start laying dropped her first egg in the run and has laid every egg in the box since then.

I had 10 eggs in November and 99 in December. In January so far I have had 4 or 5 every day. They are coming soon!

 

[Bigjibby4082]

View attachment 1634844 View attachment 1634845 View attachment 1634846 View attachment 1634847 A typical day (white store egg shown for comparison)

The eggs are usually sparkly clean. Apparently I took nest box photos on a day in which the run was particularly
Muddy from a rainstorm.

You’re making me hungry with all those eggs

 

[batta]

I expect the first eggs at about 6 months from Barred Rocks and Gold Sex Links. We got in 13 of each that were hatched August 21. We were surprised by the first egg from one yesterday, January 5, and another today. So that is a mere 4-1/2 months. Small but very tasty.

 

[IamRainey]

My stock answer is they'll lay about 2 days before you can't stand it anymore and you're ready to make stew from them. You just can't rush it and you can't tie them down to a day. ...regardless of what anyone else's experience was.

If it's any encouragement I got 4 in late June. One of them -- a small Sicilian Buttercup -- has just started laying. Her larger Orpington and Wyandotte flock mates are still holding out. But I'm thinking any time this month. ...or next. ...or maybe the month after that.

The good news, is once they start laying you forget how long it took and how agonizing the wait was.

 

[aart]

I have 7 hens that I got at the beginning of August 2018. They were a few days old when I got them. 2 rhode island red, 2 black star, 2 orpington, and 1 barred rock. (My other barred rock turned out to be a rooster) so since they are around normal egg laying age, I'm wondering everybody's experience with when they first lay...will it be delayed because we are in the middle of winter? I check the laying boxes every day hoping to see an egg. Also, when they first lay will they know to lay in the nest box? This is my first time owning or being around chickens so any help or advice is appreciated.

Yes, short days-lack of sunlight definitely have an effect.
Welcome to BYC!
Average onset of lay for most breeds is 18-28 weeks.
Diet can have an effect too.
Here's some clues:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Rachel5589]

I got my first egg today. Yaaaay! Then my three year old wanted to hold it and she dropped it
I couldn't help but laugh at the situation... I know there are many more eggs to come. I am just glad they are finally laying!

 

[Minky]

I have 7 hens that I got at the beginning of August 2018. They were a few days old when I got them. 2 rhode island red, 2 black star, 2 orpington, and 1 barred rock. (My other barred rock turned out to be a rooster) so since they are around normal egg laying age, I'm wondering everybody's experience with when they first lay...will it be delayed because we are in the middle of winter? I check the laying boxes every day hoping to see an egg. Also, when they first lay will they know to lay in the nest box? This is my first time owning or being around chickens so any help or advice is appreciated.

I would imagine in April.

If you get chicks born that late in the year, at least here where there is winter- they usually don't start until spring. I like to get chicks born before May so they lay before halloween and all winter long.