These pages are part of a growing information resource inspired by, and based on, decades of helping domestic poultry keepers find the right solutions for their situation and our own experience breeding birds to improve selected UK pure breeds. No "out of the box, one size fits all" here. We recognise your individuality and have the experience, and the range of answers, to help you and your birds.

WHAT AGE TO BUY BIRDS

The age of the birds you choose to start with depends on your situation and experience. 

Day Olds - 
If you have the facilities, time and knowledge to rear your own it can be one of the most satisfying 'experiences'. You need a warm, draught proof, predator free area in which to rear them.
They will need heat lamps, chick/ duckling crumbs, and water. You will need to keep the temperature high - reducing gradually as they get bigger and feather up. They need very clean bedding at all times. 
Advantages : You will know that your birds have had everything they need, you will be able to build up a rapport with the young birds, it is less expensive;
Disadvantages : There is a long wait for eggs / meat, if you have a problem then you can lose all your birds (it takes more husbandry skills), you have to have access to the varieties of food for the different stages of growth; it is almost impossible to sex day old pure breeds so you can end up with too many males  ( however if you have people in the area with birds you may be able to sell/ barter them - you can also eat them)

Growers -
This is the term used for birds that have come off heat (around 8 weeks) until they are around 18 weeks (when they become point of lay). 
At this time good rearers aim to have the birds free ranging in grass pens. The big commercial companies cannot afford to have birds outside, it costs too much in time, buildings, and food so they grow their youngsters inside which does affect their growth and physiology.
Young grower birds have to be kept separate from laying hens as they need growers food which has the correct balance of nutrients to ensure they complete their growing to the full. This is probably the most critical time in which the internal organs mature and the feathering is produced. They need lots of entertainment and start to develop their own characters. If you are wanting a lot of birds and you have a separate place to keep them (or have no other birds) this is a good age to get them as they take up less space for transporting - they are pretty hardy if they have been well started. Again there is still the problem of sexing pure breeds, some are easier by this time but others can still be elusisve, but the errors are usually less at this age.

Point of Lay -
This is the term to describe birds around 18 weeks old, for hybrids this is about 4 weeks before the birds actually start laying. This allows you and your birds to settle in to their new surroundings and routine. Pure breeds may be older as they mature slower and will start laying later - 25 - 30 weeks. [Some pure breeds will start laying the following spring, whatever time they are hatched the year before]
Buying at this age means that - other than introducing the new birds carefully to the existing flock you don't need separate rearing facilities. It also means that someone else has done all the hard work and had all the expense, they can be feed as existing birds (and layers meal / pellets is more commonly available), and you don't have to wait long before the birds start laying. They will be more expensive to pay for all the hard work but sexing is more reliable.

Ducks are often sold younger as they mature earlier and laying is often seasonal.

Tim and Jill Bowis
Kintaline Mill Farm, Benderloch, OBAN Argyll PA37 1QS Scotland
all images are copyright, do not use without express permission and links back to this site.

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