When will they start laying?

[_ss233]

My oldest three hens are 19 weeks old. My olive egger sure looks close to laying her first egg based off her comb and waddles but I’m new to this and wondering how long it may be? Can they be this developed for weeks before laying?

 

[rosemarythyme]

That's a pretty red comb, so "sooner" rather than later. Other signs to look for are pullets messing around in the nest boxes and squatting if you reach down towards them.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

My Easter Egger started a few days before 19 weeks. We think the Barred Rock and Buff Orpington are also laying (both brown eggers with subtle color differences), and they began right around 21 weeks. It’s possible that the brown eggs are from the BR alone, but the BO keeps going in the nest box and trying, bless her heart.

It’s very cute - when each one has started trying to lay, a few days before the first actual egg, the others are acting as midwives, or doulas, I guess. One goes in the coop and watches the hopeful layer, purring and tuk-tukking, and the other stands guard ferociously at the coop door, squawking if anyone comes near. Then they switch off.