In early May, I got my first batch of chicks, Barred Rocks.
They grew very rapidly.
They have been essentially full-grown for a few months now. As noted elsewhere, I had an issue with a fox that claimed two of them: I didn't fortify their tractor enough to prevent the first attack, but I then made multiple adjustments and have had no further problems.
They seem to be enjoying life, but they hadn't started laying as of late December, despite being nearly eight months old. I started feeding them layer pellets in mid-September, which in retrospect was way too early, at four and a half months. Nonetheless, they were getting enough calcium. I was concerned that they might be eating eggs.
Searching online, I saw forum posts from people who indicated that they had new pullets that didn't start laying until days began lengthening in late winter/early spring. I also saw bits and pieces on the web suggesting that six to eight months is normal for Barred Rocks and other heavy heritage breeds.
Finally, I started to get a few eggs.
If size, shape, and color are consistent in each chicken, I think I have two who have started to lay at this point--one egg every two or three days. So I haven't gotten very many total yet (the first one showed up January 2). They also are not using the nesting boxes, as feared, so I put another nesting box on the ground inside the tractor. One appears to be using that, but I have also found eggs on the ground. So far, there's no real sign of one being broken after being laid.
It took a while, but things are starting to happen.
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