Which of these should I get for egg laying?

[Cinnabar]

Wasn't entirely sure where to put this question, but it's basically a question about egg laying, so this seemed right.

I'm new to chickens and will be picking up birds for a small flock next week. I have two options for nearby farms that have laying hens and I'm torn:

One place is pretty close to where I live (20 minutes away) and has "red star" hens that I'm told are 6 months old and just starting to lay for $17 each. The other place is 45 minutes away and also has red stars, but these are 11 months old for $12 each.

The cheaper price is mildly attractive for one, the shorter drive is mildly attractive for the other. But those things more or less don't matter compared with making the right choice about age. Should I expect a notable difference in egg production between the two ages? Would either the younger or older hens tend to be better able to manage the stress of the move to a new home? Anything else I'm not thinking of?

Basically, with egg production and ease of settling into a new home in mind, which of these two options would any of you choose of you were me?

Thanks!

 

[junebuggena]

Get the 6 month olds. Red stars are a type of red sexlink, and they tend to have a fairly short production life. They lay very well for the first two years and then production will dramatically decrease. Do expect them to stop laying for a few weeks after you first bring them home, regardless of the age. Change is stressful for chickens, and moving to a new home definitely a huge change.

 

[Cinnabar]

Thanks for the tip! I suspected as much, in general, but it's helpful to hear it confirmed by someone far more experienced. And I don't know very much about sexlinks, so I wasn't aware the production decline was quite that drastic! Good to know.

 

[donrae]

I also say go for the younger birds.

Laying cycle generally goes like this....

chick hatches say spring 16. She starts laying at about 5 months, in the early fall '16. She lays right through that first winter, and all the next year. Fall 17, she molt and takes a break for the winter. Resumes laying in spring 18, molts and takes a break fall 18, and continues that cycle, each year laying a bit fewer eggs.

So, by getting what we call point of lay pullets, you'll be capitalizing on that first, highly productive laying cycle. You'll basically get a year's worth more eggs from each hen. Well worth the smaller extra price per bird.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I also say go for the younger birds.

Laying cycle generally goes like this....

chick hatches say spring 16. She starts laying at about 5 months, in the early fall '16. She lays right through that first winter, and all the next year. Fall 17, she molt and takes a break for the winter. Resumes laying in spring 18, molts and takes a break fall 18, and continues that cycle, each year laying a bit fewer eggs.

So, by getting what we call point of lay pullets, you'll be capitalizing on that first, highly productive laying cycle. You'll basically get a year's worth more eggs from each hen. Well worth the smaller extra price per bird.

X 2! The "point of lay" birds are the better investment.