At what age is a chicken full grown?

[klevesque]

At what age is a chicken considered full grown?

 

[gritsar]

Depends on the breed. I have LF brahmas, 19 months old, just finished a molt and the girls went thru a growth spurt. I'm thinking it'll be their last one.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mine are 9 months old, and while they are full grown height wise, they are still filling out.

 

[hermiesbirdies]

ok how about being ADULT as apposed to full grown. and when do large birds like brahmas and reds start laying

 

[Wynette]

My largest breed are Jersey Giants; they don't put on their full size until 2 years.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My light brahma started laying at 20 weeks. My RIR was a late bloomer, but she laid her first egg just before she was 24 weeks.

 

[Wynette]

Actually, 24 weeks is the natural average for a pullet to begin laying. You honestly don't want them to begin laying much sooner...they can end up having laying issues (such as internal laying or eggbinding) if they begin too early.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree with Wynette and think about that fact when I read of people just about to die wanting their birds to start laying early. Leaving it up to Mother Nature really is best.
As I stated before, I have LF brahma. My first hen to lay did so at 19 weeks (really early for a brahma). My last two to lay were 38 weeks old (9 and a half months).
Every hen is an individual, just like every human girl doesn't "start" at the same time.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Really depends on the breed. Commercial layers are bred to lay at a young age.

I have a few New Jersey Giants and they are FOREVER getting to adult hood.

I am just thankful that most chickens can take care of themselves at a pretty young age.

 

[wannabe_goatmom]

I think the rule is to stop calling them pullets/cockerels and start calling them hens/roosters at one year old.