[nic n dave]

hi, i have 3 new chickens around 17/18 weeks old and i didnt know when to expect their first egg? or is there any signs i can look out for to give me some ideas of when they will start to lay? i have a black rock called holly, a black tail called daisey and a maran called erin xx

[orchardlady]

Around 21 -24 weeks or even more. look out for nice red combs, hen's going in and out of the hen house, chucking bit's of grass and straw over their shoulders and spending some time in the hen house.

You'll love the eggs when they start to arrive and will never eat a supermarket egg ever again.

Orchardlady.

[GrannieAnnie]

The hybrids can start at 18 weeks.  They do in the commercial farms under ideal conditions, but in our gardens, it is usually a little later.