[Blobbs]

My new girls are lovely but not one egg yet!!They are now about 17/18 weeks old and I hopefully rush down every morning only to be disappointed! How much longer will I have to wait ?

[splash101]

They are still a little young, no doubt the day you dont rush down will be the day an egg is laid and will take you by surprise.

I've come to the conclusion that POL means "at some point, they will lay"

[mum23kids]

Hello - exciting isn't it! Agree with splash though they are still young. Mine all started between 20-23 weeks.
E

[Blobbs]

oh crikey, ages yet then! On reflection the farmer pal I got them from had 8 thousand in each shed and only had about 9 dozen from 24 k ! off on hols on Saturday till the 11th July. I bet my house sitter gets the first eggs. A bit like the nanny seeing baby's first steps ! 

[Casey76]

If they are production red hens, you may not have long to wait... (they are bred specifically to start laying at 17-18 weeks old, and are considered spent at 80 weeks old) however your pullets may be contrary, and not lay until they are 30 weeks old

[Blobbs]

Yes, they are production red hens and white ones that lay brown eggs. Still nothing !

[mum23kids]

Good news though, my Goldline (production hen) was the first to lay of my 4 (20 weeks). Don't worry it will happen and then you'll have lots of eggs!
I had 115 eggs in May from 4 chickens - 9 days of 3 and the rest 4.
It's worth waiting for.

E

[GrannieAnnie]

They generally only start to lay at 17/18 weeks when they are in light and temperature controlled sheds, but I have been lucky enough to have a few of our Babcocks start at 16 weeks!

But they will start when they are ready!  Just be patient a little longer!  Mind you, some of our White Amberlinks were 26-27 weeks before they started, so you will probably find the brown ones will lay first!