Recently I adopted 6 baby chicks. I built them a nice coop and a run in the back yard. I kepts them inside in a brooding coop until they had feathers. Now they are outside in their new coop. I let them out to roam the back yard outside of the run just about everyday. They have been growing very fast and are quite entertaining to watch. They look nothing like when they were just little chicks. They are only about three months old! Anyway my questions are... When do I take them off the chick mash and put them on laying pellets? Do I do it all at once or mix the food in? How old are chickens generally before they lay eggs?


Regards,

Moose

You need a rooster to get the hens to lay eggs. I hope you adopted a rooster as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

You need a rooster to get the hens to lay eggs. I hope you adopted a rooster as well.

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Roster for eggs? Thought a Roster was just to fertilize eggs... Hens should lay eggs regardless of a roster being present or not, they just will not develop embrios. Correct me if I am wrong.

I googled up some chicken FAQs, and it appears that chickens lay eggs without having a rooster around. And apparently they start doing that around 3-4 months old.

My Pet Chicken: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions about Chickens)