How old is this Light Sussex?

[CCchickens]

We bought 7 Light Sussex chickens about 17 weeks ago. The person we bought it off claimed they were 15 weeks old, which means they are now around 32 weeks old! They still aren't laying, and to me they still look fairly young (although i'm definitely not an expert)...the sussex pictured is one of the most mature looking of the lot.
What do you experts think?

 

[Habibs Hens]

maybe not 32 weeks but 20 for sure

and the red on the comb suggests about to lay

are the legs gone from yellow to a pale cream/off white

that's also a indicator of laying

LS are pure breeds so won't lay as early as a hybrid


do you have a pic of the day you got them so we can compare that pic too

 

[CCchickens]

This is a photo of one the first week we got them....and the legs are now white.
Also, we were told heavier chicken breeds don't lay in the colder months, and it is now autumn where we live in Australia so its quite cool. Is this true?

 

[Habibs Hens]

This is a photo of one the first week we got them....and the legs are now white.
Also, we were told heavier chicken breeds don't lay in the colder months, and it is now autumn where we live in Australia so its quite cool. Is this true?

yes your chickens are about 10-15 weeks there so 32 sounds right

and yes that answers a lot

your in Australia and yes they wont lay in autumn


I had chicken hatched in march 2012 and they became ready to lay age when autumn kicked in [oct] and didn't lay

they are a year old and started to lay eggs last month that over 52 weeks

they will miss their cycle if the weather isn't right but you will get loads come October when spring kicks in

although they might lay you never know

you could give them heat and light to extend the day and make them think its warmer but I advise let nature do its thing

 

[CCchickens]

Thanks for that.
Also wondering, what do you suggest is a good chicken breed for a small flock (9 hens + a rooster). I want a good layer, for both eggs to eat and eggs to incubate.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: ---------------
I have three who look just like this and were hatched April 1st. So I would sat this bird is about 5 weeks old. I am I the USA in western Pennsylvania. Historically, Sussex were bred to be winter layers. They hatched their chicks in January in England so the chicks would be raised and fattened, ready to eat on Derby Day. The best Sussex winter layers are hatched in March. My hatching season should have run from end of Jan. thru end of March this year. I am late because one of my hens decided to sit eggs and was out of lay for 9 weeks while she sat, hatched and raised the chicks. I prize my Match-hatched birds.
Best,
Karen
Waterford English Light Sussex