hmmm...I wonder....

[vstoltzfus]

I bought my 11 hens at 20 weeks. Got 2 eggs within hours of having them, and they've been laying 9-11 eggs per day ever since. When it's time to get a new flock, I might try peeps, though, so the kids have the experience of raising them. When the time comes I'll look at my resources and see if I have the money and time to wait for eggs.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Being a first timer in Feb 09 with only ten - two ended up being roos - so rehomed them. I wouldn't trade getting the day old chicks in a minute.

You get to bond with them, see their little personalities develop, and they trust me as 28 wk olds who started laying at 20 wks old.

I go out and thet all come running and hang out to see what I've got or what I'm doing without fear. I can walk up and pick them up without them flopping around. That comes in handy when one gets out or you need to check for lice/mites and/or injuries.

I'm not sure that would be the case with older ones. If I got older layers just for the eggs, I wouldn't feel the same about them. They would be just a bunch of chickens that provide eggs.

I just ordered 25 more - MPC Pullet Rainbow Special $41.50 - FREE shipping.

I can't wait to see what I got, trying to figure out what I got, and all the different personalities, sizes/shapes/colors.

GET CHICKS - You won't regret it.

 

[MikeTheChicken]

I would start with babies, that way you can handle them lots and influence their temperament as an older bird...plus babies are cute!

 

[newchik715]

Ohs sorry guys....the reason I was wondering is not because I just want eggs...I want my chickens to be like pets but the heartbreak of losing chicks and the time they require....I don't have anything to take care of chicks! I am not sue if any of them would survive and I have no idea how to go about it. While this site is helpful I am so worried about raising chicks I thought I would just get older hens or let older hens raise chicks.