When will my hens start laying?

[OmnipotentOrpington]

I've got 3 ladies who will be 6 mo in 4 days. I have an Australorp, a Buff Orp and an EE. The EE recently got jumped by a couple of dogs (don't worry-she's fine!) so while she grows back her feathers, I'm not expecting her to start laying. Does anybody know when these little ladies will start laying?

 

[PioneerChicks]

I've got 3 ladies who will be 6 mo in 4 days. I have an Australorp, a Buff Orp and an EE. The EE recently got jumped by a couple of dogs (don't worry-she's fine!) so while she grows back her feathers, I'm not expecting her to start laying. Does anybody know when these little ladies will start laying?

What is the weather were you are? I would expect them to start soon, if they haven't already.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Are there combs enlarged and reddening? Are they squatting? Are they friendlier then usual? All signs that they will be laying soon!

 

[OmnipotentOrpington]

Right now it's raining pretty hard, but it's been cold and slightly damp over the past few days. They spend most of their time outside, and there's a light in the coop from 6am to 6pm.

They've always been pretty friendly, so I don't see a difference. Their combs are bright red (except for the easter egger-she hardly has a comb), but I haven't seen any squatting.

 

[Folly's place]

Hens (and you have pullets, not yet one year old) need fourteen to sixteen hours of light daily in order to lay eggs. Have a light, small, on from3am to 7am daily, on a timer. Evening lighting makes it harder for them to roost at dusk. Morning artificial lighting is best.
Mary

 

[Alaskan]

Without enough light, they might not start to lay until late January.

 

[FLXCHIX]

My girls Are about the same age. They started laying about a month ago. I keep hearing they need so much sunlight, but the suns up at 7am and sunset by 4:45pm, so just a little under 10 hours and they are laying everyday. I don’t think my Austrlorp is laying yet, I understand they take a bit longer.

So even if you go to pet your hens, they won’t squat? (They don’t do it on their own.) only some of my girls do this though. There’s no rhyme or reason to these darn chickens!!

 

[OmnipotentOrpington]

My girls Are about the same age. They started laying about a month ago. I keep hearing they need so much sunlight, but the suns up at 7am and sunset by 4:45pm, so just a little under 10 hours and they are laying everyday. I don’t think my Austrlorp is laying yet, I understand they take a bit longer.

So even if you go to pet your hens, they won’t squat? (They don’t do it on their own.) only some of my girls do this though. There’s no rhyme or reason to these darn chickens!!

Well, when I coax them into the coop for the night, they squat, but I thought they were just scared of me! Also, we changed the light from 3am to 6:30 pm because they spend a BUNCH of time in the coop!

 

[FLXCHIX]

Well, when I coax them into the coop for the night, they squat, but I thought they were just scared of me! Also, we changed the light from 3am to 6:30 pm because they spend a BUNCH of time in the coop!

No, they are not scared, they are squatting! Yay!!! My one hen is so funny, I put my hand over her and she squats super low and lifts her tail feathers (mating posture). It is nice when they get to this stage, as it makes it easier to handle them or pick them up if you need to. As I said though, not all of them do this. My Austrlorp is terrified of me and my California White is not interested in starting a friendship. They definitely have their own personalties.

 

[OmnipotentOrpington]

No, they are not scared, they are squatting! Yay!!! My one hen is so funny, I put my hand over her and she squats super low and lifts her tail feathers (mating posture). It is nice when they get to this stage, as it makes it easier to handle them or pick them up if you need to. As I said though, not all of them do this. My Austrlorp is terrified of me and my California White is not interested in starting a friendship. They definitely have their own personalties.

That's exciting!! Thank you! One of my ladies (the buff orp) is the sweetest little thing. She shouts at me when I don't give her treats though! The australorp is a little less friendly, but she still comes up and is the first to get food (top of the pecking order)! The easter egger is the most cautious, and she acts like a squeaky toy if you gently stroke her!