How old were your chickens when they stared laying and what breed?

[Farmer Viola]

Hmmmmm why do hatchery chicks start later?

I don't know! this is just my experience

I got the hatchery birds at 12wks. they were raised on a farm near me.
I raised the non-hatchery birds from eggs myself and ensured they had the best possible nutrition from day 1. I also felt that they looked more mature, healthy and robust at 12wks than the hatchery birds...

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hmmmmm why do hatchery chicks start later?[/quote]

Some hatchery chicks start earlier. Some hatchery chicks start later. Some non-hatchery chick start earlier. Some non-hatchery chicks start later. How they are fed can certainly make a difference. Another big factor is heredity. Breed also plays a apart. Time of year has an effect.

Personally I don't want a pullet starting to lay real early. I prefer her body to mature more so she is better able to handle egg laying. After the first month I don't feed them a real high protein diet. That will slow their body growth and bring that more in line with skeleton growth and internal organ maturity. I generally don't select the ones that start really early for my breeders. I've got them to where most start in the early 20 weeks area instead of some in the teens.

It's a personal preference. I just don't get excited about weird eggs like yolkless eggs, soft shelled eggs, or double yolkers. And I have a mixed age flock. I always have some pullets or hens laying so I don't need the weird pullet eggs.

 

[PeckPeckChick]

I don't really belong on this thread, but I thought you all would find it interesting that my quail started laying daily at 8 weeks old. They were mature enough at 3 weeks to tell what sex they were. 

Hmmm I saw here on BYC that they do start laying at 8 weeks. If only chickens could be the same....