[gingerplant]

Hello all
I'm feeling the need for home laid eggs!!  Since our brood were all wiped out by mr. reynard, we restocked in September with some pullets aged about 16 weeks or so.
They are looking pretty ready to plop soon    all juicy & red-combed, and our sussex reverse is squatting/crouching.
I'd resigned myself to no eggs until days started getting longer, but wondered what the record for starting to lay in winter is?  I'm really hoping we'll get an egg before new year!
Our old Maran laid her first egg on Christmas Eve two years ago!
Keeping everything crossed!

[asd1]

My bluebell laid her first three eggs this week

[joyfull]

yes lots, it is generally older birds (2-3 onwards) that go off lay over winter especially pure breeds. Most hens will slow down in their second winter. My girls are now increasing their egg laying from 1 every 2 days to 6 yesterday and most of these are pullet eggs.

[spud]

I normally have my replacements due to lay coming into the winter, I think its easier on them as they are not being pushed to lay like they are in the spring time.

This years hybrids laid the 1st egg on 28/10/11 we are now at 5.04 eggs/hen/week.

Its a good sign your hens squatting, I don't think you will have long to wait now!

I don't push mine with lights, they get organic pellets, mixed grain, fish oils, apple cider vinegar and fresh greens every day ... In this real bad weather they are getting cabbage etc from our own organic garden.

My Black Australorps have not started to lay yet, but they too are getting up some colour so hopefully they will start soon.

Cheers

 

[evie2]

my first bantam started laying mid December

[moomintroll]

My black rock Amy laid her 1st egg on November 19th and has laid 18 eggs since!
My little hen (not sure of breed) Meggy laid her 1st egg earlier this week and I've had 3 off her so far. I also think I might have got my first egg from my maran pepper today too  x

[gingerplant]

Well Cleo (I think it's her- Sussex reverse!) has today confirmed what you've all said!!!
Hooray!
First pullet egg   
That's interesting about them being more likely to slow in their 2nd winter.
Let's also hope that the others start to get the hint  :blink:

[banty]

My three orpington bantam hens are approx 6-7 months old and no eggs yet. I am a first time keeper so itching to find that first one! Maybe they're saving them as an Christmas present, if it's got a bow on it I'll be v.impressed 

[JaK]

My Rhode island red (29 wks old) started laying on the 15th and we've had 5 eggs from her so far. 
My other 6 chickens (all 25 wks old) are yet to lay but due to their breeds I don't expect to see an egg from any of them until the new year.