We got chickens in two batches last year.  The first batch was three (one for each child) but one of them turned out to be a rooster.  So we got two more, 7 weeks younger than the first two.

In January first one, then the other of the first two started laying eggs.  This month, the other two started as well.  It is now one of the kids favorite activities to go check for eggs and hang out with the chickens.