When can we expect First Eggs?

[Anonymous]

Our 4 pet chickens haven't laid yet, we have 1 Welsummer and 3 light sussex, Welsummer is 21 weeks old and the other 3 are only 18 weeks (so don't expect them to lay quite yet) We have 2 nest boxes in a shed and have put a real egg in to incourage her to lay but nothing is working, they are open nest boxes, do they need a lid?, they are free range in a very large fenced off piece of garden, eating wheat, layer pellets and other bits. Can anyone suggest anything else?

 

[Tim]

Sounds to me like you are doing everything right. Most pure breeds come into lay around 21 weeks but moving them can delay this a little. Some larger pure breeds won't lay until 24 weeks as they are slower to mature.

Breeders that wish to show their chickens will sometimes move pullets around to delay them from coming into lay so they can put more weight on first.

I'm sure it won't be long before you see an egg although keep in mind, the daylight hours are decreasing now and chickens slow down egg production and stop over the darkest winter months.

Eggs will be small at first but don't panic they do increase in size.

Enjoy that first egg when you get it!

Tim