When will I get my 1st egg? **UPDATE** Got one today!!!

[SassyKat6181]

The girls are now 21 weeks....I have Barred Rocks and Black Sexlinks.....when might I expect an egg?

 

[gryeyes]

Whenever they darned well decided they are ready to lay.

Each pullet is an individual; some lay early, some take a whole lot time longer.

 

[lsv313]

25 weeks has been the magic number for about half my hens - the rest have been 30 or more. Then I have 1 EE who's 38 weeks old and still no egg yet! I know waiting for that first egg drove me absolutely crazy! But soon enough they'll start one by one, and then you'll have eggs galore! It is worth the wait!!!

 

[horsepowerhaven]

My two I raised last spring were over 30 weeks. It drove me crazy waiting. One is laying regularly and my Americauna has only laid one so far.

 

[HollywoodHillsHens]

What's the verdict on ceramic eggs in the nest box as a signal to "Lay Eggs Here?" My girls free range. And if so, is it better to shut them in at night and let them out in the morning AFTER they've laid their egg?

I have about 10 brown ceramic eggs from McMurray Hatchery from when I went on a poultry shopping spree.

(BTW...I have to say a word about their excellent customer service - totally took care of replacing a product ASAP that got a small crack in a plastic canister during shipping).

 

[Chickenkate17]

My girls were all laying by 23 weeks.....they started right when I was about to give up and figured they would all be 27+ weeks!

 

[horsepowerhaven]

I only have one hen that lays in the am. The rest lay afternoon to late afternoon. So keeping them in hoping they will lay before you let them free range may not work too well.

 

[ginormous chicken]

Whenever they darned well decided they are ready to lay.

Each pullet is an individual; some lay early, some take a whole lot time longer.

So true! My little "chicks" are now 22 weeks and no eggs! I live off the eggs of my 11 month old hens eggs a BCM and an OE Bantam. They'll get there. I have 1 wood egg in 1 of the 2 nesting boxes. My BCM sits on it though, so I am hoping they figure it they are supposed to lay there. Monkey see monkey do right???

Don't fret; you'll get eggs.... pretty soon they'll be coming out of your ears!!!​

 

[Kathleen1115]

Mine mostly have started between 19 and 22 weeks, although my RIR -- who is just over 23 weeks -- may or may not have started. I've never caught her in the nest but have found one or two eggs that are a different color and she suddenly calmed down last week after turning into a crazy mean lady about three weeks ago -- so she's either about to or has started.

We put golf balls into the nesting boxes about a week or so before the first girl started laying and so far they've all laid perfectly in the boxes. They really seem to like the golf balls and are very funny about making sure the balls stay tucked underneath them while they lay.

 

[SassyKat6181]

Thanks eveyone....guess I'll just keep waiting....