Will my Pullets lay eggs this Fall?

[Kel2u]

This is my first time with chickens and my pullets are 22 weeks old (2 Barred Rocks and 4 Easter Eggers) and none them have started laying yet. Their combs and wattles have grown and are bright red, they are destroying the nesting boxes daily and about 12 days ago a few of them started squatting when I would pet them. These are all sign of impending egg laying from what I have read, but alas, nothing. I have also read that since they are reaching maturity during fall that I may have to wait until spring to start getting eggs. We are located in Northern Nevada with highs in the 70's and nightly temps of upper 30's and low 40's and we still have 12 1/2 hours of daylight. So... any guesses if I will be seeing any eggs this fall or will I have to wait until spring??? Thanks!

 

[WIchickMama]

I would think they would start laying, mine were mid 20-weeks last Sept into Oct and they started laying and laid through the winter. I did hear EEs can be later layers so maybe they will be Feb layers.

 

[Kel2u]

I would think they would start laying, mine were mid 20-weeks last Sept into Oct and they started laying and laid through the winter. I did hear EEs can be later layers so maybe they will be Feb layers.

So there is some hope... Thanks!

 

[Dlm2plus]

I have the same question with my mixed flock of bantams (1 cochin, 1 RIR, 1 Dominique and 2 OEGs). All are 22 weeks and all but the OEGs have bright re combs and do the squats but so far nothing. I'm in south Carolina so still 80-90 in daytime and 50s or 60s at night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

All the signs say they are close, so "soon."

 

[WIchickMama]

All the signs say they are close, so "soon."

Agreed soon! Now what that means will vary between each hen, the hardest part is waiting

 

[TX Chick Noob]

“When will then be now?”
“Soon”

[Sorry, couldn’t resist the movie quote. ]

 

[Kel2u]

Agreed soon! Now what that means will vary between each hen, the hardest part is waiting

The waiting IS the hard part!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Their combs and wattles have grown and are bright red,

I don't give guarantees on anything like this, anything can happen. You won't know they are laying until you see an egg. Yours may not lay until the longer days of spring. But I would not expect the combs and wattles to be bright red now if they were going to wait that long.

 

[Dlm2plus]

I'm almost out of chick feed, is it ok to give a layer feed even if I haven't seen an egg? I put some oyster shells in the run and they are eating it. Just worried about the two OEG bantams who seem to be slower to develop. Here's a recent pic.