When Pullets Start to Lay Eggs
Summer has arrived and your spring chicks will be approaching puberty. So you can anticipate the arrival of eggs soon! Discovering a hen’s first egg from your own hand-raised chicks is a thrill.
Pullet eggs are tiny and look like gems in the nest. Assuming they’ve enjoyed good food and care, the young hens--called pullets--will begin laying sometime between their 16th and 24th week of age.
Changing Nutritional Needs
Producing eggs places great nutritional strain on a hen’s body. Just think of the calcium she is giving up each time she lays an egg! So if your pullets are over 16 weeks of age, now is the time to switch them to a layer feed. Our Nutrena layer feeds have all the minerals, vitamins, protein, and other nutrients your birds need to remain healthy and productive.
Now would also be a good time to supplement calcium by putting oyster shell out or sprinkling it on the coop floor for hens to discover and eat. We carry that, too.
Recognizing When Pullets are Ready to Lay
You'll know your pullets are ready to lay eggs when:
- Chickens are between 16-24 weeks old
- Birds look full-grown with clean, new feathers
- Combs and wattles have swollen and are a deep, red color
- Bones in the hen’s pelvis have begun to separate.
To check if the hen’s pelvis bones have begun to separate, cradle the hen between your side and arm with the hen facing your back so you see its rear end. Carefully hold the bird’s feet so it can’t kick. Place your other hand gently on the hen’s rear end. If three prominent bones are close together, don’t expect eggs for a few more weeks, but if the bones have separated, expect eggs soon!
Some Final Preparations
Pullets like to lay eggs in privacy, and it’s important to have your nest boxes in place before the first egg arrives. These can be purchased or made of lumber and should be approximately 10-12 inches square and about 18-inches deep. Install one nest box for every two hens and place them from one to three feet above the floor. Line the nests with straw, dried grass, wood chips or even shredded paper to help keep the eggs clean.
Our team is standing by with all you need to transition your hens into layers. Call or stop by anytime, and our associates will be eager to take care of you!
NOTE: This post is adapted (with permission) from content proudly brought to you by our partners at Nutrena and Cargill Animal Nutrition. The original article appears here.