At what age do Light Sussex hens start laying eggs?
At what age do Light Sussex hens start laying eggs? (Real experience from a Devon smallholding) If you've just brought home your first batch of Light Sussex chicks, you're probably wondering: "When will I finally get an egg?" I remember that feeling. I used to check the nest boxes every morning, hoping to find that first perfect egg. And when it finally came — small, a bit wonky, and sitting right on the coop floor — I carried it inside like it was made of gold. Based on my years of keeping Sussex and Orpingtons here in Devon, here's what you can actually expect. And no, the books don't always get it right. The short answer (and why it's not that simple) Most Light Sussex pullets start laying between 5 and 7 months . Some early birds may lay as early as 4.5 months — especially if they were hatched in early spring. Others, particularly late-summer hatches, may take up to 8 months. Compare that to Orpingtons. My Orpingtons often took 7 to 9 mon...