When will my girls lay?

[caracals]

They're all 5 months old.
I have a RIR pullet (23 weeks old)
a Buff Orpington (24 weeks old)
and an Easter Egger (24 weeks old)

When should I expect an egg? The Buff Orpington (out of all 3) seems the most developed and her combs and wattles are there. Turning red as the days go on, but I've not seen any pre-laying behaviors from her yet.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Sounds like they're about the right age. The best way to see, once those faces turn red, is to check the pelvic bones. If you pick up your lady backwards (her head facing your back) and feel along either side of her vent you will feel two bones protruding. That's her pelvis. If the distance between these two points is any LESS than 2.5-3 fingers width then she's not ready. A chicken's pelvis is usually around 3 fingers to lay.

 

[wamtazlady]

If you pick up your girls and feel their pelvic bones you'll get a better idea of when they will begin to lay. They need at least 2 finger widths of room between those bones before they can pass an egg. If they are about 1 1/2 widths then they are probably within 2 to 3 weeks of laying. They also need a bright red comb. I've never done well with the squatting behavior as none of mine have ever done that. Having the days so short means that laying is delayed. I'll bet they are all laying by the end of February. The days have been getting longer.

 

[caracals]

Yeah, I've just been really antsy now because I //know// they're nearly there! I'll feel their pelvic bones later today and let you know the result. It's only 6 am here and it's absolutely freezing out (very windy with cooler temps makes for icy wind) so I'll wait until the temp heightens before checking

Also, will they not squat for me if there's a cockerel with them? We have a silkie cockerel (5 mos) and his combs/wattles have been developed for the longest time now. I've seen him mate with my RIR a few weeks ago even!

She was about 19-20 weeks when that happened. It didn't go anywhere though, since I'm assuming she was well below being mature. Still, it surprised me.

 

[caracals]

Update: 1 has down the submissive squat! She's the BO. If she does this, how long before lay?

 

[wamtazlady]

Between 20 and 30 weeks old most chickens will be laying. If your birds' combs are a nice bright red, if they are squatting, and if their pelvic bones are far enough apart to pass an egg, your birds are getting close to laying. I'd guess that by the end of March most if not all of your birds will be laying. Once I had a Buff Orpington that waited until she was 11 months old before she layed. However, her comb wasn't red until she was ready.