When will they start laying???

[ChickenCrazy8]

I have 4 pullets: 1 SLW, 1 BA, and 2 Ameraucanas. They are now four months old. When should they all hypothetically start laying???
Thanks,
Zoë

 

[trunkman]

For the most part pullets can start as early as 18 weeks, I've had them start at that age, the average at about 20 weeks. I've also heard that when they are hatched in late winter and early spring they usually start laying early but if they hatched in late spring or summer it may take them longer to start laying which is what I am finding out now, mine are 23 weeks and still aren't laying, they were hatched in early May. And all the chicks I've hatched in late February or early march laid in August.

 

[6littlechicks]

I second that, as mine where hatched April 25 and only 1 has been laying. Next time I start a flock I am going to plan out the timing differently!

 

[Heartforchickens]

My 14 girls were hatched April 25th also. Only 2 are laying as of yet. One is a dominique who started at 22 weeks (5 1/2 mos.) and has layed every day since. The other is either the Ancona or the Golden Campine who gave her first egg yesterday at 1 day short of 24 weeks. The first flock I had (5 hens) were hatched February 26, 2007 and started laying July 16 at 4 1/2 months. That's a month's difference in the two flocks. Maybe the hatch time does make a difference. Wondered also about shorter day length now or perhaps the smaller flock being less stressed. Only the chickens know I guess and we are left to wonder. I only know they can't hold them in forever!

 

[6littlechicks]

I know right! They have to let them out sometime. It's neat that they share the same birthday

We are making progress, My RIR is squatting and "practicing" the egg song, so is my 30 week old blue cochin whos butt doubled in size this month, and my BO that turns 19 weeks tomorrow has been checking out the nest boxes daily and left feathers in there for me this morning, lol. I'm so excited, they are getting closer. I checked out the daylight calculator and it said for my coordinants I am getting 11 hours of day light so I put in a set of orange halloween lights on a timer to go on at 4am and off at 8:30 pm when my girls are in their coop for the night at 6:30.

 

[6littlechicks]

woohooo! my RIR layed her first egg today! 24 weeks 1day.

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

Yay!!!! Congrats

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

They are laying