4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Helenx]

Hi all, can someone tell me at what stage should my chickens start laying? I have three light sussex bantams (the poland ended up being male, so we had to take him back). They're approx. 12/13 weeks old and one is definately bigger than the other's. The lady who bred them told me after I had returned the poland that she has bantams and large sussex all in the same pen, so I'm thinking that one of the ladies is not a bantam but a large light sussex, how do I tell, apart from when they all grow up? Also could someone tell me at what age do they turn from young chickens to adult chickens. Thanks

 

Helenx

 

Marge

Lisa

Maggie

 

youngest likes the simpon's !

[beach chick]

hiya - congrats on your girls. the short answer is "when they are ready" which could be anything from 18-24 weeks or even longer, depending ontheir breed.

the classic signs are when their combs and 'face furniture' get red, their tails go up more, and sometimes they will start crouching when you come near them. then you get excited, and then you wait!! sometimes they may become more assertive and/or friendly to you as well.

 

light sussex turn into quite big girls I think (I've got a silver sussex at the mo who's pretty hefty). bantams seem to be roughly about half the size at adulthood.

 

as far as I know, they are chickens (or pullets) til they lay, at which point they become hens, but there is probably someone along in a minute who knows more than me!!

[Helenx]

Thanks for that, I'm still new to all this so trying to find as much info as possible.

Helenx