New To chickens

[Batgirl]

Hello
Im new to owning Chickens and new to this site. I was invited by a fellow chicken owner
I have three girls, Batman, Robin and The Yoker and have had them for about a fortnight now. Batman is a jubilee orpington, Robin is a splash orpington and The Yoker is a light sussex x orpington. The yoker has been laying eggs daily since she arrived but the orpington girls (about 4mths old) are yet to start laying.
At what age do they start to lay? Does anybody know?
Im worried that The Yoker is ruling the roost a bit as she seems to be bossing them about in the enclosed area alot. Could this be preventing them from laying?

Thanks

[Bephlam]

That's chickens for you Batgirl - there has to be a leader....hen pecked in it's purest form. I doubt very much that The Yoker is prventing the girls from laying....it's probably more likely that they're just not quite ready yet. My girls only started laying yesterday, and they're 35 weeks. So, don't lose hope yet!!

Welcome to the Vine, btw...you'll love it here!

[Batgirl]

arrr i see
We were told that they would start anyday now.
We'll just have to sit and wait then

[Bephlam]

I'm not sure what age an average orp comes in to lay...but I recall a thread on here recently from someone who had 30 odd week old orps that weren't laying.

What colour are there comb and wattles? Are they nice and big and red??

That's normally a good guide...and are they bowing when you approach them yet?

It's sooo eggciting, isn't it?? lol

[-pat m]

My Orpington’s started at 31 weeks a few weeks ago!

Worth the wait!!

Regards and good luck
Pat

[Bephlam]

There ya go...I knew someone with orpington experience would come along. I love orpies...but have salmon faverolles. I may sneak an orpie in at some point...ordered two blue copper marans...and going to hatch pekins this season. Really want some white sussex too!!

Oh...my name is Bobbie and I'm addicted to chickens!!!

[Batgirl]

No they aren't red yet no. They still look so young, so im sure i need to wait alot longer, looking like the end of May?

The yoker is giving us an egg daily which is just briiliant and yes ....very eggsciting
My two boys are loving having chickens and finding the prize in the nest box.

[Bephlam]

Yeah, sounds like you'll have to wait. If they aren't red and developed it's very unlikely they're ready to lay. Of course, I'm often wrong...seeing as I was sure my girls were going to lay for about 1 month before they actually did!! lol

Still...it'll be well worth the wait...!!

[MaureenHall]

Depending on the breed, I think chooks start to lay any time from about 20 weeks onwards. I've always found the best indicator is as Bephlam says, wattles and combs developing and getting redder, also if they crouch down when you put a hand on their backs they're just about there (or are there already and they've hidden the eggs )

Big welcome to the vine

[Batgirl]

Thats amazing. Why do they do that then? The crouching i mean? Is it a protective thing?

[JackieAt]

Orpingtons seem to be a law unto themselves when it comes to laying, ours used to lay regularly and then went broody (middle of last year), then she went into a full molt and now she goes in with other girls but comes back out when they have laid. She seems to have forgotten what shes supposed to do LOL.
But she is the funniest of the bunch bless her

[MaureenHall]

It's the stance they make when they're ready for a cockerel. They think your hand is the cockerel wanting to mate with them. My Bluebelles are such tarts! Not only do they crouch down, they stick their bums high in the air too

[Batgirl]

That is hilarious

No neither Batman or Robin do that yet but the Yoker definitely does, i thought she wanted me to stroke her

[hairchick40v]

I have been keeping chickens for years, and in my experience, they can start laying anytime from 20 weeks all the way to 36 weeks.. My Americaunas started laying really early and my cochins started real late... I have 20 or so hens(they won't line up so I can get an exact number), I get about 13 eggs a day, I let them free range during the day so, a few have nest in the yard, most use the layin boxes... They definetly have a pecking order, one them will be the boss and the chain of command goes down from there... I have hens that fight like roosters, they are so bossy!!! I love them!!!

[curvychick]

New to Chickens

Hi all!
I am also new to the site! Found it by pure chance!
I have two girls -Trinny & Susannah. Trinny is a Blue Orpington X Hamburg and Susannah is Blue Orpington X Black Rock.
Trinny laid eggs when she first arrived then stopped for her moult and the winter, she started laying again a couple of weeks ago, a little sporadic, but hey its still eggs! Susannah has realised that the Paxo threat was not an idle one, so she has joined the club (not to be outdone!) I dont know how old they are so I cant help with your question Batgirl, someone else did tell me about the red combs and it really is a good indication, or you could also use the paxo threat!
Thanks for the info on 'bowing'! Susannah has started to do that, little minx! I thought she was afraid of me!!!
I also wanted to ask about the noise level. They have started squawking is that also for the attention of a cockerel? Only if it is, I think I'd better tell them as I dont hink there is one in a ten mile radius!! Unless of course they can use a mobile??
Love the site and all the threads...hope to post some piccies soon, but for now its off to work for me!!
Curvychick