When do silkies mature?

[Three Cedars Silkies]

My 5 month old silkie boys are crowing...but not acting particularly interested in "the deed". In the pen next to them are 2 bantam cochin boys who have been breeding for a month and they are several weeks younger than the silkies.

How about the pullets....when do they typically start laying?

 

[SunshineSilkies]

I have some pullets that were born in December that haven't started laying yet. The cockerel from the same hatch starting crowing about 6 weeks ago and starting to "dance". Depending on where you get them from, I think depends on when they start laying. Typically, if you get them from a breeder, for some reason, it takes the boys and girls longer to mature. The boys are usually ready before the girls. Hatchery birds seems to mature at a faster rate for some reason and lay sooner. I am still patiently waiting for a few of mine to start laying..

 

[magsrags]

Quote:
I had 3 hatchery hens all begin laying at just 5 mmonths old. All in the same week...... and they were actually hatched out the same day. interesting.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

My girls started laying at 6.2 months, and 7 months of age.