This may be a stupid question, but....

[Crickett]

How old are chicks before they start laying? My "big girls" are about 3 months old now, and they are fully feathered out; looking like real chickens now, and one of the roosters even tried to crow a bit, (sounded like a rusty gate). They are talking in real "chicken talk" squaks, not peeps anymore. Should I make sure they have nesting boxes available to them soon? Right now they just use their roosts to sleep on.

 

[debilorrah]

No stupid questions here. All questions are valid

26 weeks of age is the AVERAGE start time. Some start earlier and some wait a loooong time to lay.

 

[RAWR]

i would say about 17-20 weeks :]

 

[tygab]

Quote:
I think it'd be good to have nest boxes ready for them soon. While they probably won't start laying for a month or two more, they will get used to them and start laying in the right place (though at first they may not know what is happening and their eggs will go wherever they are...).

Isn't it wild when they go from peeping to chicken talk? Have fun and enjoy seeing them growing.

 

[pondguy2004]

Had a wht. leghorn start at 17 1/2 weeks last summer and some silver leghorns that didn't start 'till about 28 or 30 weeks. Some breeds and some lines, within a breed, may vary a lot. Tim

 

[RAWR]

good boxes would also be a big helpper in when a chicken starts laying eggs

 

[Lollipop]

Well, lessee...... Pullets faces turn pink or red just before they start laying and they sing a little song, much like your granny humming while doing housework. Get the boxes ready.......Pop

 

[TXmom]

Great question and great answers

I have 10 hens (several different breeds) that will be 18 weeks old tomorrow and I swear the leghorns are about to start laying. They haven't yet, but their combs and wattles all of a sudden got big and red, and they're starting to squat when I pet them. I know those are good signs...YIPPPEEEEE

 

[water4two]

Stupid questions receive the best answers!

 

[sloallie10]

i would say about 17- 25ish weeks to lay.