When will my chickens lay?

[CIuck]

I have 2 easter eggers, 1 dark brahma and 1 barred rock, when will they lay? They are 11 weeks old today, I have heard different things about when they will lay, people have said 18-24 and 12-18, what should I expect. I did the test where you put your hand on their back and if their wings spread out they will lay in a week but nothing happened. How else can I tell if they will lay, how to I prepare their coop for laying, I have pine shavings in it now, but I am going to buy hay soon, anything else?

 

[LikeTurkeys]

18-24 is more reasonable, only the best layers start 14-17. Your barred rock will likely be the first to lay, then the EE's and Brahma. Usually they will start squatting 1-2 weeks before onset of lay. 11 weeks old is really young, so I'm not surprised that the test didn't work (keep in mind though that not all pullets will squat before laying).

Do you have a nest box/boxes? For four birds, you only need 1 or 2.

When they get closer to laying, their comb and wattles will grow and turn a brighter red. For 3-4 weeks prior to laying, they will begin checking out nest boxes. Some may even practice sitting in them. It's possible they will squat for you, though not all pullets coming of age do so.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My 7 Barred Rocks started to lay at 20 weeks and the last BR to lay was 23 weeks.
The EEs start between 24 to 29 weeks or later. The Dark Brahma, I don't know.
I open or install the nest boxes at 15 weeks old. You can use straw, hay or shavings in the nests. You'll want a 4 inch lip on the nests especially if you use shavings.
Offer Oyster Shells in a separate container after 16 weeks old. GC
ETC; I open/install nest boxes at 15 weeks, not 16.

 

[CIuck]

18-24 is more reasonable, only the best layers start 14-17. Your barred rock will likely be the first to lay, then the EE's and Brahma. Usually they will start squatting 1-2 weeks before onset of lay. 11 weeks old is really young, so I'm not surprised that the test didn't work (keep in mind though that not all pullets will squat before laying).

Do you have a nest box/boxes? For four birds, you only need 1 or 2.

When they get closer to laying, their comb and wattles will grow and turn a brighter red. For 3-4 weeks prior to laying, they will begin checking out nest boxes. Some may even practice sitting in them. It's possible they will squat for you, though not all pullets coming of age do so.

They all sleep in my 3 meeting ing boxes ( but they all sleep p in the same one)

 

[CIuck]

My 7 Barred Rocks started to lay at 20 weeks and the last BR to lay was 23 weeks.
The EEs start between 24 to 29 weeks or later. The Dark Brahma, I don't know.
I open or install the nest boxes at 16 weeks old. You can use straw, hay or shavings in the nests. You'll want a 4 inch lip on the nests especially if you use shavings.
Offer Oyster Shells in a separate container after 16 weeks old. GC

Thank you guys!

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

They all sleep in my 3 meeting ing boxes ( but they all sleep p in the same one)

If they sleep in the nesting boxes they typically won’t lay there. That is a habit you do not want them to have.

They will probably lay between 18-32 weeks of age. Barred rock will probably be first, EEs and Brahma will start laying at around 24-36 weeks so it could be a big wait between all of them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They all sleep in my 3 meeting ing boxes ( but they all sleep p in the same one)

Bad habit that you should break ASAP. No one wants poopy eggs.

I don't think I've had a bird start laying before 24 weeks.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Bad habit that you should break ASAP. No one wants poopy eggs.

I don't think I've had a bird start laying before 24 weeks.

What breeds? Of the chickens I have, those such as GSL, Production Blue, EE, Black Australorp and many other common breeds began laying before 24 weeks. My young pullets are somewhere around 25 weeks right now and the only one who hasn't started yet is my one BLRW.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What breeds? Of the chickens I have, those such as GSL, Production Blue, EE, Black Australorp and many other common breeds began laying before 24 weeks. My young pullets are somewhere around 25 weeks right now and the only one who hasn't started yet is my one BLRW.

I have a mixed flock of which the hens include: 2 EEs, 1 each of Buff Orp, Buckeye, Welsummer, FBCM, Speckled Sussex (she's a dud and rarely lays).

I think part of the reason I get first eggs on the late side is because of the very short winter days as the birds come to maturity. All my birds are mid-late May babies, by the time they mature the sun may be setting as early as 4:30 PM.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

I have a mixed flock of which the hens include: 2 EEs, 1 each of Buff Orp, Buckeye, Welsummer, FBCM, Speckled Sussex (she's a dud and rarely lays).

I think part of the reason I get first eggs on the late side is because of the very short winter days as the birds come to maturity. All my birds are mid-late May babies, by the time they mature the sun may be setting as early as 4:30 PM.

Ah, that makes since. Now that I think about it, some buff orps I had (5 of them), only started laying around 28 weeks because they were June chicks. This year I purchased them in January for a full summer of productivity.