I bought Kyle, my Red Star, as a started pullet and she began laying shortly afterward. In my mixed flock of 4 (BO, EE and SS), she has moved to the top of the pecking order. She is friendly (the only one who consistently comes to be picked up), a good forager and very rarely takes a break from laying. Although she is not the"prettiest" of the bunch, I am very happy with my choice and am thinking of adding a Black Star in the spring for a little more variety. Overall, great chickens, especially for a newbie.