Smooth Hound
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new layershow old are chickens when they start laying
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lachlanandmarcus
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Its about 16 weeks, tho can vary between 15-17 weeks
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Welly
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'Point of Lay' is classed as 16 weeks, but as LaM says, it can vary. We've had some layers that don't actually start until 20 weeks, and the eggs are the size of a thimble to begin with!
Welly
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Sassinak
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It can depend a lot on the breed as well as the time of year. If they are coming up to point of lay in the depths of winter, they will usually wait until spring before you get an egg
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Julie
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I'd have to agree with Sass there, season makes a huge difference.
I think that generally, 16 weeks is a bit optimistic for point of lay and hens hate any dramatic change in the weather too. A prolonged hot spell or a lot of colder wet days can stop them from laying, so it seems feasible that this hot weather could delay the point of lay.
I remember Gordon saying once that he read that keeping their drinking water below a certain temperature helped them lay better.
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Sassinak
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I have 5 maran pullets who had just started laying - they had laid maybe a couple of dozen eggs between them. We then relocated the shed and put it into the big run we have built. We haven't had a chocolate brown egg for weeks, until this morning when there were 2. So hopefully that has delayed their puberty long enough for them to lay through the winter lol - ever the optimist !!
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