puddleduck Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 ok, so chickens seem to be advertised as point of lay anything from 17 weeks ish...but their not really pol are they! I got mine 4 weeks ago at 17 weeks old, now 21 weeks with elsy slightly older at 22-23 weeks. And, well no signs yet! the younger 2 have red faces but the combs are really undeveloped! I realise it can vary from chicken to chicken and various breeds etc but is there a common age that they start to lay.... and will elsy ever lay????? OH is really losing interest now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Got my 3 big girls on Valentines day this year at 12 weeks, one of which was slightly older. The slightly older one isn't laying yet but one of the yonger chickens started laying this week. Two of my banties started laying at 30, and 31 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Have patience, we've all been there! POL is a term of art. I think it was about six weeks before mine laid, and I had almost given up - when I discovered one lurking in the Eglu I thought she must be ill, and I can still remember the amazing feeling when I found AN EGG! If their combs are getting redder that's a good sign - are they crouching yet, if you approach them? It will happen, and when it does your OH will fall back in love with them. Even two years on it's still a real thrill to open the eggport and find real, shiny eggs in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 We got our 3 hybrids 3 weeks ago, they were 18 weeks old then so I guess that makes ours the same age as yours - and we've still not got an egg either! Our Beaky is a lot more developed, she has a nicely developed comb and she's quite red in the face, but she's not crouching yet - are yours crouching? I gather they do that for about a week before they lay so I figure until she does that we've got at least a week to wait The other two haven't got their combs yet so all eyes on Beaky!! I'm really begrudging buying eggs now , I even dreamt we had two eggs there last night, and then discovered my husband had dreamt we had eggs too.... but still nothing this morning!! Good job they're pretty or they'd be in trouble Let us know when you get eggs - wonder which of us will be first!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodle Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 I got mine from Omlet last May, I we reckoned they hatched about last Jan. It was well in to July before we got eggs. Be patient - the eggs are worth the wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Hi Same situation but mine are now about 21 weeks and their combs are all different stages but the speckledy who has the biggest comb isnt crouching(although another omeleter has a sister same batch and they got an egg this week) Two of my others with smaller combs started to crouch yesterday but I have nest box disappointment every day! I also am fed up buying eggs and leave it til the last minute too....Just in Case! I know it will happen we are mothers in waiting...Hurry up chickens indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 The race is on - who will be first to get an egg?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annettec Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Our hybrid laid her first egg yesterday and then again today . Her comb is not very big although it and the wattles are quite red now. Our other hybrid is really under developed with her comb but has started crouching apparently that is the sign ! Our egg layer crouched about 5 days ago for the first time and then laid an egg yesterday and then today. They are small 32g and 36g but perfectly formed and i have never squealed so loud as when i found the eggs if the neighbours didn't know we had chickens they do now It really is worth the wait and as others have said i think the crouching is the key to when you may expect an egg rather than the combs etc but we are first time chicken keepers so are learning as we go too ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 I'm so jealous, I want some eggs!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puddleduck Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 mine are yet to crouch also... I keep willing them to do it lol hehe let the race begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 Just worked out that my big girls are 22 weeks, my goldline is laying, she never crouched but lay flat like a pancake while others had fun. My bluebelle is crouching for my 4 year old but not laying, and my amber star doing pancake thing this week to but not laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Our Bluebelle Beaky has been sitting down when my husband has gone to stroke her and sitting stone still while he stroked her today and yesterday, but she doesn't do it for anyone else, or do it when we go past or anything - do you think that counts or is she just enjoying a stroke?? The others are nowhere near so it's up to Beaky to deliver !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Our Bluebelle Beaky has been sitting down when my husband has gone to stroke her and sitting stone still while he stroked her today and yesterday, but she doesn't do it for anyone else, or do it when we go past or anything - do you think that counts or is she just enjoying a stroke?? The others are nowhere near so it's up to Beaky to deliver !!! My bluebelle looks the most mature out of my big girls but still no egg and my goldline looks the least mature, she is the smallest of my large fowl, smallest comb and last to go a bit red in the face but is still the first to lay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Today no crouching as a couple of them were yesterday but the speckledy is sitting a lot looking v motherly, also their combs just suddenley seem redder..am sure for mine it will b imminent..my son keeps going to the nest box and going "MUM" we got half a dozen"! But what he means is we have 0 Cant b much longer!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Two of mine were 30 weeks before they laid and the other, despite laying 10 tiny eggs at 21 weeks, then stopped till she was 39 weeks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Two of mine were 30 weeks before they laid and the other, despite laying 10 tiny eggs at 21 weeks, then stopped till she was 39 weeks . - that's just cruel of them!! How frustrating!! Been out to them this morning to give them more shelter (severe weather warnings today), and they're doing nothing at all - they hate this drizzly weather we're having up here, just stand there with faces like thunder!! Goodness knows what they'll do if it does turn into the forecast storm this afternoon they're grumpy enough as it is, just stood there giving me the treatment!! No change in combs or anything, Mrs Little and Butterfly hardly have combs really they're so undeveloped and Beaky's could be redder I'm sure. Just keep waiting....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Anyone had any joy yet Nothing for us yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puddleduck Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 still waiting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Hurry up girls, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Indie is the winner Who will be next I wonder.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...