When will my pullet start laying?

[tinkitten]

Alright, I just witnessed my Rhode Island Roo mating my Black Australorpe. My kids are 18 weeks now, and that particular Australorpe has reddened around her face and her comb a lot. Any thoughts on when I can expect an egg? I would think that actual mating would indicate that the female is receptive, and therefore should lay any minute now, right? I'm getting so antsy. Or, any thoughts on what I can do to take my mind off it?
Thanks

 

[trunkman]

My pullets will be 20 weeks old this Wednesday and no eggs yet! I have 5 leghorn, 5 California white, 5 California grey, 5 production reds and 5 cuckoo marans, this waiting business is getting really old! I also have 8 three year old hens that haven't laid an egg since December, so all I have is a bunch of freeloaders!! So many chickens, so little eggs!!!

 

[FaerieChicken]

I just got a black sex link and a light brahma! I would like to know at what age do these breeds start laying? They are about 6 weeks old now!

 

[mumofsix]

Wow! Your flock is mixed like mine

. Everyone says They love the mixed flock and the old-time Chickens.

 

[Mah1Mah1]

Alright, I just witnessed my Rhode Island Roo mating my Black Australorpe. My kids are 18 weeks now, and that particular Australorpe has reddened around her face and her comb a lot. Any thoughts on when I can expect an egg? I would think that actual mating would indicate that the female is receptive, and therefore should lay any minute now, right? I'm getting so antsy. Or, any thoughts on what I can do to take my mind off it?
Thanks

Make baby-name lists xD

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My pullets will be 20 weeks old this Wednesday and no eggs yet! I have 5 leghorn, 5 California white, 5 California grey, 5 production reds and 5 cuckoo marans, this waiting business is getting really old! I also have 8 three year old hens that haven't laid an egg since December, so all I have is a bunch of freeloaders!! So many chickens, so little eggs!!!

Hopefully the 3 year olds haven't been on layer feed since December and not producing egg shells.

I just got a black sex link and a light brahma! I would like to know at what age do these breeds start laying? They are about 6 weeks old now!

Almost all breeds start between 20 and 26 weeks. Some start as early as 16 but some can be 30-40 weeks before they start depending on time of year. Lengthening days they'll start sooner, decreasing day length or dead of winter will be later.

I'll go take a look at her now. She started squatting a couple days ago, but she could have been a squatter earlier since I don't go to pet them or pick them up everyday.

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I have yet to see my leghorns squat. The one isn't laying yet but she is 2 weeks younger so in about another week or so. My RSL's and SS's squat all the time.

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I have not experienced squatting with any of my birds, really. I guess I'm not really quite sure what it looks like.

She is the escape artist and gets out of the run every day within about 2 minutes of me opening the coop. The run has no roof yet, but it's about 8 feet high. Child's play for her to get over. Hopefully she's not laying eggs somewhere I haven't checked yet!

Thanks for all the responses! But by all means, keep going if you'd like!

Squatting and onset of lay are both related to sexual maturity, however they are not intrinsically entwined. Laying is ovulation, squatting is the desire to breed. I've yet to have a hen squat for me that had a rooster in the flock.

Awesome! It's really fun waiting for that first egg.

X2

 

[Sylviaanne]

The squat will look like this.

Oooo, I had one that did that for a while! I thought it was something left over from when they would let me hold them. She's the only one who would do it this way.