Single hen

[speckled hen]

Hi everyone

 

Sorry if this is daft question but I am a novice! What age can I expect my girls to start laying? Are there any tell tale signs to look for? My 2 marans are approx 20 wks and my 2 light sussex are approx 22 wks, I am feeding them organic layers and a bit of corn, so I would also appreciate advise on what I should be feeding them.

 

Thanks

Speckled Hen xx

[chickencam]

Hybrids usually start laying at 18 to 20 weeks but a bit later the further into the year we are because of reduced daylight levels.

 

Yours should lay anytime now, look out for large red combs on their heads, the redder they are the closer to laying they are. Also they may start to crouch down if you walk up behind them, thinking that you are head of the flock ie the cockerel

 

What you are feeding them is fine but keep the corn to a small handfull towards the end of the day as a treat because too much makes them fat and less likely to lay.

 

Good luck, waiting for that first egg can seem like forever, you will be so excited when it arrives

[speckled hen]

Thanks very much for the reply. One of my light sussex has a comb which is quite red but the other three havent really got them yet. The marans came from a guys shed so not sure how accurate he was with the age when we bought them. Do you think I should be feeding them grit or adding things to the water? I give them marmite on toast once a week, they love it!

 

Speckled Hen x

[Forge Cottage]

I am in the same boat. 3 hens for 3 weeks but no eggs yet. One seems to have a good comb and the other two are developing...

 

 

How close am I to eggs do you think? They all troop into the house for part of each day, so I wonder whether one is broody and the others are following for moral support.