How long to wait until the 1st egg?

[tlck9]

Hi All

Just wondered how long it usually takes for the first egg to arrive from newly settled Chickens?

I was told that before they will lay that their comb should be bright red?

Thanks for all your help, this forum is really useful for the beginner, the chooks will now raise their heads when I approach and acknowledge as I get closer, quite a nice feeling

[Flummery]

It depends on the breed really. Yes, their combs will become a lovely deep red, and if they are ntame enough to stroke, they will squat down when you put your hand out to them. They think you're a cockeral and are submitting (unless they've got a headache of course!)

A hybrid - Isa Brow, Lohman, Ranger, Warren, Black Rock - there are loads of them - will be between 19 and 22 weeks, generally speaking - although it depends on the time of year. We are having longs days now and they do respond to the day length so it should be a shorter rather than a longer wait.

If they are pure breeds, well, it can be up to 30-something weeks. Behplam had a huge long wait for her firt egg, but hers was a seriously posh bird!

It will be worth it, believe me.

[julesapple]

It depends on the breed really.......If they are pure breeds, well, it can be up to 30-something weeks. Behplam had a huge long wait for her firt egg, but hers was a seriously posh bird!

It will be worth it, believe me.

30+ weeks?! Oh no! Are my lot are all pure breeds?

Maran
Wyandotte
Cream Legbar
Buff Sussex
Scot's Dumpy
Marsh Daisy

Jules

[tlck9]

I need to check how old they are, all I know is they are POL pullets

I have a Ranger (Babcock B380 hybrid) Bovan's Nera (Barred Plymouth Rock hen and a Rhode Island) Leghorn and Meadow Red (Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex cross)
which I think are all Hybrids.....I cannot wait for the 1st egg

[Nicos]

No idea for your breeds- but I am interested in getting 3 Marans ( on hold just for now) and they are a mixture of Coucou de Malines, Croad Langshan, Rennes, Faverolles, Barred Rock, Brakel & Gatinaise.( apparently)..so that's not really a pure breed is it???? No idea when they reach POL though- sorry

BUT when your first egg arrives you'll feel like a kid at Xmas!!!!!

[MaureenHall]

My Bluebelles are 22 weeks now so I'm waiting with baited breath for the first egg from them. The Welsummers are 18 weeks, but as they don't normally come into lay till around 28 weeks, I think I'll be extremely lucky to get an egg from them before next Spring!

On the whole, hybrids can be anything from 18 to 24 weeks and pure breeds as has been said could be around 30 weeks. A good test for if they're either laying or about to start is the colour of their combs (my Bluebelles combs are black though!), and if they crouch when you put your hand on their backs. They might go a bit "off-colour" for a day or two beforehand (think of it as PMT ) so don't worry. Here's hoping you don't have to wait too long for that first one - and enjoy it

[bluemoon]

A couple of my marans were already laying when I got them, but they went off lay for a few weeks, I assume due to the stress of moving. Their combs actually shrank and went pale pink for a time, before the redness returned and they went back into lay.

[tlck9]

they are 19 weeks, the breeder says I may have another 4 weeks to wait,

I dont mind any length of wait as long as they are healthy and are settled, but I cannot wait for the 1st egg!!!

[HayleyB]

Julesapple you do have a hybrid - the Cream Legbar (Araucana cross)

Cookie our French Coucou Maran is about 22 weeks and she has only just started to show a comb let alone lay, the Bluebelles I got at the same time have been laying about two weeks now, the same at Robin our Red Rock.

[julesapple]

Julesapple you do have a hybrid - the Cream Legbar (Araucana cross)

Cookie our French Coucou Maran is about 22 weeks and she has only just started to show a comb let alone lay, the Bluebelles I got at the same time have been laying about two weeks now, the same at Robin our Red Rock.

And Hattie (the legbar) is the only one who looks like she's anywhere close to laying, her comb is the biggest and reddest!

Ah well, we shall just have to wait and see...bit like a kid waiting for Christmas. I wonder how many sleeps it is?

Jules

[tlck9]

well, the answer to my question is one week exactly....

my very first egg:




A very small very light brown speckled egg, not entirely sure which chuck has made me very proud

[Flummery]

Oh, well done that chicken! - so come on, how did you eat it?

[MaureenHall]

I'm going to show that picture to my Bluebelles. 22 weeks and don't show the slightest inclination to lay down never mind lay eggs!!!

[tlck9]

Oh, well done that chicken! - so come on, how did you eat it?

I am going to savour it and have it for breakfast.....a small scrabbled egg I think on my OH's home made ciabatta that he baked while I was up the allotment cleaning them out LOL

[tlck9]

question is which bird did it?

Reading my hen info sheet, I should get white eggs, rusty Brown eggs, large brown eggs or brown eggs

Any vote on what this one would be classed as - I would suggest it a small egg rather than a medium or large