[Connor]

My trio of gold silkies are 17 weeks old now when will the rooster start serving them and when will the hens start to lay?

[Stereo]

It's late in the year so fertility is low, roosters will be less active and hens, especially rarer breeds may not even start laying until spring.  I would suggest that you put off all plans of hatching until April/ may. Others may have more knowledge of silkies.