That's about the time I got mine too. The first bunch I got ended up being older hens, 3 were already laying and 2 more were about 10 weeks old, expected to start laying in about 3 months (I'm still waiting). DH had a FIT when I brought in the Big Girls, as he was expecting babies, but settled down when he saw I had a plan to keep them temporairly in the yard in a puppy X-pen covered with netting and an Igloo dog house for a chicken house. It worked pretty well, but the Golden Retrievers soon figured out about chicken poop and that they could push in the side of the pen to get to it. We did put finishing the hen house and pen in high gear, and moved the 5 girls in about 2 weeks later. (Not much telling how long we would have gone doing just a little at a time, without the Big Girls.) The 8 Peeps (3 BO, 3 Amercuna & 2 Barred Rocks) came along a few days after the big girls, and lived in a shallow horse trough in the basement by the dryer till they were big enough for the outside. Then I resurrected the X-Pen with net cover for them inside the chicken pen, till they all got used to each other. Now 2 of my 3 layers have Totally STOPPED laying, so with 12 grown up looking chickens I get an egg every other day -period. I'm really ready for the little ones to start pitching in. I check the house & pen twice a day just waiting for a hint they are starting to lay. They are running up into the hen house & go into the nesting area and even stay there a while. (but then, so do the 2 that stopped laying over the last 2 weeks) I'm going to look in the garage for some golf clubs and maybe find some old "water balls" to put in the nests.
Patience has never been a strong suit. Can't wait to give the Big Announcement that my girls are starting to lay!! Can't wait.
Linda Mac