When will they lay

[MarkJr]

I’ve seen posts on colors of waddles etc before a pullet lays.
We have a juvenile cockerel that is trying his darndest to get these ladies to cooperate with mating. He’s tried severe ‘his way’ now has resorted to wooing them with treats and his favorite dusting spot.

I digress though.... how much longer do you think I’ll be waiting for eggs on these girls? 16.5 weeks old.

 

[MarkJr]

I took pictures of the 4 that actually have some color, and one that has zero color.

 

[Jenthehen127]

I’ve seen posts on colors of waddles etc before a pullet lays.
We have a juvenile cockerel that is trying his darndest to get these ladies to cooperate with mating. He’s tried severe ‘his way’ now has resorted to wooing them with treats and his favorite dusting spot.

I digress though.... how much longer do you think I’ll be waiting for eggs on these girls? 16.5 weeks old.

POL for my girls is around 20 weeks I have read. I don't know if its the same for all breeds?

 

[MarkJr]

These are sapphire gems and dominant coppers. The gems are reddening up much faster than the dominant coppers

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's a terrible answer but they lay when they're ready to lay. 16 weeks would be on the early side. Many hens don't lay until 20 weeks or more. Mine have always been on the late side, 24+ weeks.

 

[MarkJr]

It’s not a terrible answer at all. I keep bees. They also do things on their own timeline.

Main reason is they free range. I have 4 boxes in the coop with dummy eggs in them. One is occupied with a hen with chicks on week 2. That leaves three.

Do they just know to return to coop to lay? Or do I need to start looking for a stash of eggs?
Four boxes should be OK for 2 hens (1 laying 1 momma) and 10 pulleys?

My chicken math says I want a bigger coop.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It’s not a terrible answer at all. I keep bees. They also do things on their own timeline.

Main reason is they free range. I have 4 boxes in the coop with dummy eggs in them. One is occupied with a hen with chicks on week 2. That leaves three.

Do they just know to return to coop to lay? Or do I need to start looking for a stash of eggs?
Four boxes should be OK for 2 hens (1 laying 1 momma) and 10 pulleys?

My chicken math says I want a bigger coop.

From your photos 2 pullets are further along though may continue to mature a bit more. You could do a pelvic bone check for a more definitive answer: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Their instinct will be to find a safe place to lay - whether or not that's in the coop, or out in the field somewhere, it's hard to say. If by all indications someone has started laying, but you're not seeing the eggs in the coop, better start checking your free range zone. They may need to be locked up for a little while to train them to return to the coop to lay.

You have enough nest boxes so that shouldn't be an issue. Bigger coop... well, the chickens won't say no to more space.

 

[MarkJr]

...... I haven’t counted the 4 two week old chicks under momma either.

I haven’t heard the egg song. Haven’t had them squat near me (rooster can’t even get them to squat.... awkward teenager. Whenhe grabbed back of head it’s been squealing and fighting from hens end)

I’ll be patient. Not good at that, but I’ll give it a go.