WE JUST BOUGHT SOME CHICKS. AT WHAT AGE DO THEY START LAYING EGGS?

-- Daniel (cag@icansurf.com), August 25, 2000

Answers

Response to Chickens

Please don't take this as offensive, but this seems to be another of those 'how do I boil water' questions. Get thee to your local library and check out all of their books on raising poultry. You will find your answer there. These chickens seem to have been bought on impluse. Did you have housing for them in advance? Do you know what to feed them at the stages of their lives? Do you know about molting and egg production? If possible study something for a least a year before trying it. Gripes, maybe I'm already getting forum burn-out like Jd did with Countryside.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 25, 2000.

Response to Chickens

Daniel, Your chickens will start laying between 5 and 6 months. You do not need a rooster for your chickens to lay eggs, and they will lay no more than one egg per day per chicken. Their eggs will be very small at first and get bigger as they age. They wont all start laying at the same time, some breeds lay sooner and are better layers than others. If this is old news to you I apologize, have fun with your new chicks.

-- Julie (julieamc@excite.com), August 26, 2000.

Response to Chickens

Here's a great poultry site. Scroll down and start sucking in knowledge!

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), August 26, 2000.

Response to Chickens

I second Julie's input. E-mail direct if you think I can help with specifics. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 26, 2000.

Response to Chickens

I started to write an answer to your post but Julie hit it right on the head. As they used to say on Family Fued, "Good answer Julie" Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), August 27, 2000.

Response to Chickens

Hi Daniel I love to talk chickens. Julie answered your question nicely I might add, I know that Ken is realy a nice guy maybe he is haveing an unhappy day. If you ever have any more questions I would love to help. I dont visit the forum every day. Feel free to e-mail me anytime. Lisa

-- Lisa Hopple (hopplehomestead@safezone.Net), August 30, 2000.

Response to Chickens

HEY GUYS GIVE THE GUY A BREAK. HAVEN'T YOU GONE OUT AND BOUGHT SOMETHING ON INPULSE. HE'S JUST ASKING FOR ADVICE. WE HAVE A SMALL POULTRY FARM IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. WE MARKET OUR EGGS. BOTH CHICKEN ANDDUCKS. DANIEL, WAS CORRECT THEY START LAYING AT 5-6 MONTHS. WE ALWAYS ENJOY THE FIRST BATCH OF EGGS. ESPECIALLY OUR COLORED EGGS. MANY TIMES ON AN IMPULSE WE HATCHED OUR OWN EGGS IN THE INCUBATOR. IT MADE US FEEL THAT SPRING WAS COMING, EVEN WHEN WE HAD A FOOT OF SNOW. WELL ENJOY YUR CHICKENS. CHECK OUT THE WEBSITES. I HAVE A FEW IF YOU WANT TO E-MAIL ME. GOOD LUCK

GARY AND PRISCILLA MT ASHE ACRES FARM

-- MRS PRISCILLA WILLIAMS (GP83196@AOL.COM), September 01, 2000.

Response to Chickens

Daniel and Mrs. Priscilla: Please consider NOT TYPING IN CAPS!!! It is hard to read. Thanks. And good luck with all your birds.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), September 01, 2000.

Response to Chickens

HI, I did not buy my chicks on a whim and I had the same question. I went to the library, searched the internet etc...but there is nothing like asking someone who has actually done it on a neat forum as this one. Did Daniel say they were bought on a whim? I don't see that written here....just my two cents worth.

-- Cindy in OK (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), October 01, 2000.

Response to Chickens

Daniel, don't know if you have had chickens before or not --but don't forget to give them grit along with their food/ & water! Also they may need a little oystershell if they do not free range. Also if your chickens get upset they will stop laying for awhile. When we go on vacation & neighbors take care of our chickens they always get up set & quit laying for awhile. I have little bantam hens & I love them they are such good sitters/ & will sit on any kind of egg! And have been good Mothers, also. My Ducks & geese just started laying/ the first eggs were weird for awhile-soft shells or double yolks--but now we have normal eggs. Have fun!!!! Our first chickens in years I bought a very, very old rooster & hen to give them a retirement home. Then first thing I knew we were back in the chicken business. Then I bought baby ducks & geese & it had been so long since we had, had them I think I forgot everthing I ever knew---but our family forum, here helped me out many times!!!! We have a great group here & I have found they know more than most articles I have read plus it is lots more fun haveing the family help you out!!! My rooster is tooooo old & I think I'll wait until next spring to get another rooster who is able to do his job! Elmer can still crow through!!!!! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), October 02, 2000.