[beth123]

Hi

A friend of a friend, and a local breeder, has offered me some chickens.  He's told me that they are six months old and will be ready to lay eggs in the spring.  Do this sound right?  From what I have read chickens are ready to lay eggs at about 18 weeks.  Is there anyway I can tell roughly how old they are?

[Aunt Sally]

What breed are they ?

There are quite a few things that will tell you how old a bird is - can you post some close up pictures of them.  Loads of people here could give you a good idea of their age.

[GrannieAnnie]

It is difficult to say without seeing them, if they are hybrids, they should be laying by now, but if they are pure breeds, some of mine didn't start laying until they were 30 weeks plus, and as we are coming into winter, a young pure breed may in fact not lay until early spring.

But like Auntie said, if you could get some photo's???

[beth123]

Hi

They are Light Sussex and I believe they are pure breeds.  I'll try and get some photo's to post.

[Aunt Sally]

They should come in to lay very soon I'd have thought.

[GrannieAnnie]

They may wait until spring now, but the first of my 6 LS girls laid her first egg on 16th November 2009, so fingers crossed for yours!!!  She was 29 weeks old!