Will they ever lay an egg?

[aprilfritts]

We have 6 bantams that are now just under 6 months old and not a single egg yet. It's been really wet and we've had a cold snap (the weather is supposed to break this weekend). At what point will they give us an egg??? It's our first flock, so we are pretty anxious.

 

[jimz1]

First of all

They should be laying anytime soon. Just have to be patient.

 

[hudsonhousechicks]

Yes, they will lay and it will be a wonderful and glorious day when they do and the first egg will be the most beautiful and perfect egg that you have ever seen.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you feeding them well, an 17% or 18% protein feed, and fresh water and they are getting 14+ hours of daylight each day, they will lay when their bodies tell them to and not a moment earlier.

 

[Mimi and the Peeps]

I know your anticipation! My 13 hens of different breeds are also just under 6 months. My BO seems to be making a lot of noise lately, so I'm hoping for the first eggs soon. I can't wait, and will have my camera ready!
What is strange though, my niece lives next door and has 6 hens that started laying at 3 and a half months. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself, I saw them at 3 days old, at Easter, and they were laying by July. Has anyone else heard of laying this early?

 

[Gerry2011]

Quote:
I sure haven't, but what are they?

 

[Fred's Hens]

The commercial hybrids, bred for the egg industry, but also sold at feed stores and from hatcheries, will often begin laying at 17 weeks. In white egg layers, these are the Leghorns and in brown, these are the RSLs which get sold under names like Golden Comets, Cinnamon Queen, Red Stars, etc. The ISA Brown, a specialized, commercial hybrid, will almost alway lay at 17+ weeks.