Question on layer hens when they start laying?

I have 19 hens which are mixed between Redstars and Dark Cornish, along with a Brown leghorn rooster. They are all just over 120 days old. The rooster has been breeding the hens like crazy for the last two weeks, but I have yet to get a egg. Once the hens are old enough to be breed shouldn't they be laying eggs ?Question on layer hens when they start laying?
Chickens will start laying eggs between 6 and 8 months old depending on the breed. You might want to keep the rooster away from them, just to give the hens a break until he's really needed. The rooster is pretty much just around for chicks, and when he breeds with them helps them produce more eggs then if he wasn't around. When your hens first start laying they'll be small eggs, and get big over time. Sometimes when hens first start laying you'll be huge eggs, which contain double yolk. They're perfectly fine to eat, and it is caused just by the hens not having their eggs regulated yet.





Hope this helps!Question on layer hens when they start laying?
The day I posted this question I ended up with a egg. Since then I've been getting two or three a day, so at least two of my hens are laying at right around 4 months. Thanks for the info though Report Abuse

I have never had a Hen start laying at 4 months although alot of what you read says this is when it will happen. I have had Bantams in the past that have been 6 months old before they started laying. Your rooster is not bothered what age the Hens are so that has no significance really.


The combs and wattles usually are bright red when they start laying. Well that has been a Sign with my chickens anyway.


Don't worry they will get going eventually, frustrating as It is!
I believe you have an aggressive rooster. The hens will lay eggs when their body is mature, perhaps as soon as 30 more days. The best you can do is give them 24/7 water, layer pellets and oyster shell from the feed store. They will love a handful of chicken scratch feed and wild bird seed mix thrown on the ground. If confined they will like grass and clover clippings as well as fruit and veggie scraps.
Personally I hate overly agressive roosters and unless you want to hatch any of the eggs you do not need a rooster. the hens will still lay many many eggs. and if you do intend to breed them eventually, keep him out til you want to.
A lot of sites will say around six months or so, but it's been my experience that they start laying around one year old. This is probably because many breeds don't lay in winter, though.
120 days makes them about 4 months.


They won't lay until they are 5 or 6 months old.
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