When Will My Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
If you’re new to raising chickens, one of the biggest questions is—when will my hens start laying eggs?
The short answer:
Within six months.
The long answer:
It depends.
To understand when your chickens will begin laying eggs, it helps to know the stages of their life—chick, pullet, point of lay, adult, and senior.
Chick (week 0-6)
Chicks are about 0 to 6 weeks old and are the chicken equivalent of human newborns or toddlers. During this stage, they mostly eat, sleep, poop, and grow. They need a highly controlled environment because they can’t regulate their body temperature yet. And, of course, they aren’t laying any eggs.
Pullet (week 6-20)
Pullets are young hens aged 6 to 20 weeks. They are growing rapidly and starting to form a flock hierarchy. However, they still aren’t laying eggs.
Point of Lay Hen (week 16-24)
This is the final stage before your hens begin laying eggs. During this time, you may notice changes in behavior:
- They start squatting when you approach, a natural sign of sexual maturity.
- They frequently check out and explore the nesting boxes.
- Their combs and wattles turn bright red and become swollen.
These are all signs your pullets are getting ready to lay their first eggs.
Adult (~6 months)
Around six months old, most hens will begin laying eggs. The first 1–2 years are their most productive. On average, you can expect around 200 eggs per year per hen, although this varies depending on breed, age, stress, and daylight hours.
| Breed | Year 1-2 | Year 3-4 | Year 5-6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA Brown | 300–320 eggs/year | 180–220 | 80–120 |
| Leghorn | 280–300 eggs/year | 160–200 | 80–120 |
| Australorp | 250–280 eggs/year | 150–200 | 60–100 |
| Rhode Island Red | 250–280 eggs/year | 140–180 | 60–100 |
| Plymouth Rock | 200–250 eggs/year | 120–160 | 50–90 |
| Orpington | 180–220 eggs/year | 100–140 | 40–80 |
| Silkie | 100–140 eggs/year | 60–100 | 30–60 |
| Easter Egger | 200–250 eggs/year | 120–160 | 50–90 |
Senior (3+ years)
After a couple of good egg-laying years, your chicken will start to slow down. Still, expect some eggs---just not as many as you used to get. As they continue to get older, egg production will continue to drop.
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