Point of Lay (POL)

[John W Blehm]

I found a couple bantam pullet eggs today and the oldest pullets are only 20 weeks old.  Of course they may not all lay that early, but too often I hear that Ameraucanas don't start laying until they are closer to a year old.  Different varieties and lines will have different results as will individual birds.  I just don't want the breed to get a bad reputation due to a few bad apples.  The 2 Golden Comet hybrids I have started laying at 18 weeks, as advertised.  No breed  should be expected to produce as early or often as a hybrid, just as they won't be ready for slaughter as early as a hybrid.  I'm not shy about promoting hybrids when egg production or meat are the main goals.  Ameraucanas have so much more to offer though. 

[Mike Gilbert]

Which variety of bantam is laying John?    I know you don't have whites, but my early white pullets are all laying.  I had culled my only wheaten early pullet two months ago.  Have lots of younger ones.

[John W Blehm]

Don't know what variety...all the bantam pullets are in a coop together.

[Rebecca G Howie]

Whoopie,

A Jan 12 hatch Wheatie has laid 3 eggs in the past week (23 weeks). A couple more are "talking" about it. I have been fortunate, even my Silvers started at about 26 weeks last year. I can pretty well expect to be flooded with little blue eggs @ 6 - 6.5 months from hatch.