The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Glaswegian on May 03, 2010, 06:04:48 pm
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hi all.
i am a bit of a novice at this chicken keeping.i am looking to buy some light sussex hens,but i was wondering what is the best age in months to buy.i rang a chap who had hens for sale.they were two years old. is this a bit old for a hen? ???
cheers johnie.
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What age should you get chickens? Top
While you can buy fertilised eggs and hatch them, it is a better idea to buy either day old chicks or point-of-lay pullets. Point-of-lay pullets are about 18 weeks of age and are just at ‘the point of laying’, which usually starts at about 22 to 24 weeks of age.
Hope this helps.
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If they are a pure breed and cheap ie a couple of quid, they might be OK.
Best (most productive) age to buy is about 18-22 weeks, called point of lay (POL). Most hens will start to lay 22-24 weeks. They lay best in their first year, then egg production decreases by about 25% each year. In the best year, the number of eggs may be between 260 and 300 eggs.
I haven't bought any birds this year but I was paying nine quid for POL hybrids last year. I sell my surplus at 1.50, so three dozen eggs pays for the hen (excluding feed costs of course).
Hope thsi helps, but others will have more information and views.
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if you want layers then 2 years is getting on abit in chicken years for egg productivity.
having said that, they should still produce a fair few, so it depends really on whats you prefer - a nice family sized production or omelettes every day and twice on sundays!
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Yes, it's easy to overestimate how many eggs you will actually use, especially one the novelty is over. :)
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hi.
thanks all for your info.i'll keep it in mind when i'm buying. ;)
regards.johnie.