when will my 20 week old silkies start to mate and lay ??

[kays chicks]

When will my 20 weeks cockeral silkie start to do his "husbanly duty"? At what age do they start to mate? i also have a 20 week old silkie hen he will mate with but she hasnt started laying yet either so what age will they get it together , plus when they do start and she lays some eggs how will i know if she is broody and wants to sit on the eggs ??

 

[seramachick8]

The average hen will start laying around 6 months old. Some breeds do 5 months and some do 7. They will probably become fertile around a month after they start laying.

 

[kays chicks]

The average hen will start laying around 6 months old. Some breeds do 5 months and some do 7. They will probably become fertile around a month after they start laying.

thank you seramachick , will the roo mess with the eggs when she does start to lay ? and ive just put a dummy egg in the coop will this help or not ?

. its one thing mastering the hatching and keeping chicks and they you forget there is a whole load of other stuff to learn

before you can sit back and enjoy

 

[MySuburbanLife]

I have two silkies-- my buff started laying at 28 weeks, and my black is now 30 weeks and still no eggs. She's annoyingly close, but just won't get the job done... I can't count how many times she's gone into the nesting box and pulled straw up around her only to pop out after 5 minutes and act like nothing ever happened.

Don't know about roosters, since we're an all-girl flock. Hope you see some eggs (and babies!) soon!

 

[kays chicks]

I have two silkies-- my buff started laying at 28 weeks, and my black is now 30 weeks and still no eggs. She's annoyingly close, but just won't get the job done... I can't count how many times she's gone into the nesting box and pulled straw up around her only to pop out after 5 minutes and act like nothing ever happened.

Don't know about roosters, since we're an all-girl flock. Hope you see some eggs (and babies!) soon!

oh so it could be weeks then !! ha ha ha ha ha i think you hen is giving you the run around and laughing thinking look at her waiting for my eggs

 

[seramachick8]

I'm not sure about putting the fake egg in the coop! (I'm trying that and having a laying hen with one of my hens) Lately I've had one of my chickens pecking my eggs but i don't think its one of the roosters. I guess if she starts laying and you find a cracked egg you'll know!

 

[kays chicks]

I'm not sure about putting the fake egg in the coop! (I'm trying that and having a laying hen with one of my hens) Lately I've had one of my chickens pecking my eggs but i don't think its one of the roosters. I guess if she starts laying and you find a cracked egg you'll know!

IL give anything a try

as i cant wait to get my first egg , thank you