Mitch and Tiffany, the preferred age for a pullet is just as she lays her first egg, her feather should be really nice and complete at that point. You are right in that families mature at different rates. Feed and season will also change the progression as well as any stress factors, heat, fighting..... Touch base with the breeder your stock came from. They might have some sage advice with their experience in their line. I would venture that with bantams 5-6 months if hatched in about march-may. LF will often take 8 months for pullets and for males, well probably closer to a year. But obviously you can't just hatch one sex when you need them, so you have to kind of go with a middle ground I guess. I am sure some others will join in and give you more info on their experience as well.