When will my hens start laying?

[Chick Charm]

Poppyandpatch have they reddened in the combs yet? Are they showing signs of laying? They likely will be showing you some signs even weeks before laying.

 

[Stokley]

What signs are you referring to? One of my hens would not go into the run/coop last night. She dug a hole in the dirt in the pumpkin patch and just sat there while all the others had perched in the coop. It was dark so I had to herd her back home. However she is only 15 weeks old.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Your pullets comb and wattles should fill out or swell and get very very red. Their face will look swollen and the skin will have the sand paper appearance of a ripe strawberry. They also should begin to sing that little contented song that some here call their "egg song" Because your poultry are pullets and their feathers are still young, all their plumage should be slick, glossy, and as tight as their breed standard allows. They will even have a new sharp or alert look in their eyes. Also the pecking order might change because it is often times closely related to reproductive or sexual health. This is nature's way to make sure the species successfully reproduces its self.

If my pullet dug a hole in the ground and just set in it I would suspect that she got hot from all that digging was trying to cool off or else she was trying to dust herself for mites. Most laying breeds will start laying at or before 28 weeks of age meaning that they are about 7 months old more or less when they lay their first egg.

 

[Stokley]

Thanks for the great info. Haven't seen those signs yet but my nests are ready when I do.

 

[Gloria2hens]

I have 2 RSL's that are 29 weeks old. One has been laying since I got them at 19 weeks. Her comb and wattle is very red and large. The other one still has a small dull comb, she seems quite happy and healthy though. Just a bit slow I hope. Every day I hope to see 2 eggs when I go out but not yet. Will all hens lay at one point? Is there such a thing of one not laying?

 

[Stokley]

I had 26 chicks that hatched July 1st. I gave away 4 naked necks and 2 Americauna's. The guy I gave them too told me yesterday that the ones I gave him are already laying colored eggs. Mine do not yet have bright red crops and have not laid any eggs. How come his are so far ahead of mine?

 

[Gloria2hens]

Peony finally laid her first egg this morning! 31 weeks. It was quite a bit larger than Alices's (whose been laying all along). Her comb started to grow and turn bright red a week ago so I knew it would be any day. It was quite exciting to open the nest box lid and see 2 eggs today.

 

[Gloria2hens]

Peony finally laid her first egg this morning! 31 weeks. It was quite a bit larger than Alices's (whose been laying all along). Her comb started to grow and turn bright red a week ago so I knew it would be any day. It was quite exciting to open the nest box lid and see 2 eggs today.

I have 2 RSL's that are 29 weeks old. One has been laying since I got them at 19 weeks. Her comb and wattle is very red and large. The other one still has a small dull comb, she seems quite happy and healthy though. Just a bit slow I hope. Every day I hope to see 2 eggs when I go out but not yet. Will all hens lay at one point? Is there such a thing of one not laying?

That's Peony on the left in the picture, taken the first week we got them. Her comb stayed small this whole time, (three months) until last week. Now I find it hard to tell them apart, especially when I am looking down at them while filling their feeder.

 

[Stokley]

There must be several factors at work for when they start laying. I had too many chicks and gave away 6 of them to a friend at 2 weeks. The ones I gave him started laying at 18 1/2 weeks and their sisters that I kept haven't even started reddening their combs after 19.5 weeks. A person I know who has a lot of chickens says the reason is because my friend has a mature rooster and I just have the brothers who are the same age. Does that make sense?

 

[Stokley]

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