Unless you know exactly when your hens were born, it is difficult to determine their exact age. We can’t simply ask them how old they are, so we have to make educated guesses based on their looks and behavior.
Like most animals, a chicken’s looks and behavior gradually change as they age. It is the visible evidence of these life stages that helps us determine a hen’s age. Young birds are the easiest ones to identify, as chicks do not have a complete set of adult feathers, beginning life with the short-lived fluffy yellow coating called down. They wear this attractive yellow coat for the first week or so of their lives.
Chicks slowly lose their down after the first two weeks, and small feathers start to grow in its place. They are called chicks until they lose all their feathers, which usually takes about 12 weeks.
That means a chicken that still has some down is probably less than 12 weeks old. However, some breeds may take longer to lose all of their baby fluff. But, generally, the more down, the younger the bird.
Raising chickens from cute fluffy chicks to full grown hens and roosters is an exciting and rewarding journey. However it requires diligent care and an understanding of chicken growth and development at each stage. Knowing the key milestones in a chicken’s lifecycle enables you to provide proper housing nutrition and health support. So when exactly is a chicken considered full grown?
Overview of Chicken Growth Stages
Chickens go through the following growth phases from hatchling to adulthood
- Chick (0-6 weeks)
- Pullet/Cockerel (6-18 weeks)
- Point of Lay (16-20 weeks)
- Layer Hen/Rooster (18+ weeks)
- Mature Adult (1-2 years+)
- Senior Hen (3+ years)
The timeline varies slightly across different chicken breeds. On average, chickens reach full physical maturity around 18-24 weeks old. However, their egg laying capabilities continue to develop up to 1-2 years of age. Let’s look closer at what happens during each growth stage.
Chick Stage (0-6 Weeks)
Newly hatched chicks are covered in soft, fluffy down feathers. They need to be kept warm at 90–95°F and no other source of heat can do it for them. The chicks start to walk, peck at food, and drink water in the first week.
They get more feathers and move around more by two to three weeks. Chicks establish a social pecking order and perch on objects. Chicks get their first feathers around 4 to 6 weeks and can better control their body temperature. They are ready for more varied foods besides starter feed.
Pullet/Cockerel Stage (6-18 Weeks)
Between 6 and 18 weeks, chicks become known as pullets (females) and cockerels (males). This is a period of rapid growth and maturity:
-
Pullets and cockerels grow distinctive combs, wattles and tail feathers. Males grow larger and develop more colorful plumage.
-
Between 16 and 18 weeks, birds eat grower food that has less protein (16%) to help them develop without making them lay eggs faster.
-
By 12-15 weeks, the gender differences are quite noticeable. Males start crowing and hens begin exhibiting nesting behaviors.
-
At 16-18 weeks, pullets transition to layer feed as their bodies prepare for egg production.
Point of Lay (16-20 Weeks)
The point of lay refers to the stage when a pullet is physiologically ready to start laying eggs, typically between 16-20 weeks of age. Specific signs include:
- Prominent red comb and wattles
- Squatting behavior when approached
- Visiting nest boxes frequently
- First small eggs appear around 18-24 weeks generally
The age of first lay depends on factors like breed, diet, season and lighting conditions. It’s critical to switch pullets to a high calcium layer feed at this point.
Layer Hen (18+ Weeks)
Once a pullet lays her first egg, she is considered a layer hen. Egg production varies but generally peaks at 1-2 years of age for most breeds. During peak lay, hens can produce 4-6 eggs per week.
Here are some key aspects of managing laying hens:
- Provide at least 14 hours of light to stimulate laying
- Feed a complete layer ration with 16-18% protein and adequate calcium
- Collect eggs frequently, around 2-3 times per day
- Control molting periods with added protein
- Maintain clean nest boxes and reduce stress
- Check for common issues like parasites, infections and egg binding
Mature Adult Chicken (1-2 Years)
After the first 12-18 months of laying, hens transition into mature adulthood. At this stage:
-
Egg production stabilizes at 3-5 eggs per week in most breeds.
-
Annual molting becomes more pronounced. Feather loss temporarily reduces laying.
-
Monitor weight and signs of disease. Support health with supplements.
-
Roosters reach their prime and become accomplished at mating, protecting hens and alerting the flock.
So chickens reach their prime egg production and physical maturity around 1-2 years old. This is considered the ideal backyard hen age for peak performance.
Senior Hens (3+ Years)
As chickens get older than 3-5 years, they are regarded as seniors. In their golden years, hens go into retirement mode:
-
Laying reduces to 1-2 eggs per week or may stop entirely.
-
Feed high-protein rations to maintain health and weight.
-
Monitor for age-related issues like tumors, arthritis, poor feathering.
-
Keep seniors warm and limit stress. Continue proper care.
-
Retired hens make wonderful pets with sweet personalities.
So the senior hen stage starts around 36 months as laying declines. With attentive care, some chickens may continue laying sporadically into their 7th or 8th year of life.
Growth Rate Impacts Maturity
Chicken breeds and individuals have some differences in their maturity rate:
-
Small breeds like Leghorns and Anconas mature slightly faster than heavy breeds.
-
Production-focused breeds start laying sooner than dual-purpose breeds.
-
Fast-growing broiler chickens finish growing at 6-8 weeks when they reach a harvest weight.
-
In a flock, some hens may start laying a few weeks earlier than others.
But nutrition, weather and flock dynamics also impact development, so there is variation across individual birds.
Key Takeaways on Chicken Maturity
-
Chickens reach physical maturity around 18-24 weeks typically.
-
However, peak egg production occurs later at 1-2 years old in most breeds.
-
Gender differences become noticeable by 12-15 weeks of age.
-
The first eggs generally arrive around 16-20 weeks during the point of lay.
-
Careful monitoring of growth stages allows you to provide the right housing, feed, light and care as chickens develop.
-
Understanding the chicken lifecycle enables a more rewarding backyard flock experience.
From chick to pullet
Once a chick has molted and lost its down, it enters the transitional period between chick-hood and adulthood, the chicken equivalent of teenage years. Hens over the age of 12 weeks are in this phase, and are known as pullets. This period of their lives usually lasts until 20 weeks old, though it can be longer. The name ‘pullet’, though, is generally used for any hen under one year.
Pullets are considered adults when they lay their first eggs, which occurs somewhere between 18 and 25 weeks. The male chickens, called cockerels or roosters, become adults when they start to crow and show interest in the hens by chasing them. This occurs at around five months old, although some breeds are later developers.
It is hard to say exactly how old a chicken is at this point in its life, when it has finally grown up. If your hens have all of their adult feathers but aren’t laying eggs yet, they are probably between 12 and 20 weeks old. Young hens of this age will tend to have smaller combs than fully adult birds.
From pullet to adult hen
If you are keeping multiple hens, it can be hard to tell if an individual bird has started laying or not. Pullets will have small, dry and pale vents in comparison to hens, and this can be used as a way of telling whether or not they are laying.
During this post-20-week period, both the pullets’ and cockerels’ combs and wattles will gradually become brighter and more pronounced. Birds with less vibrant combs and wattles are most likely to be aged around 12-15 weeks. It is during this prime egg-laying stage of a chicken’s life that their combs and wattles will be at their most vibrant – as a hen ages, it slowly loses the red color.
Hens increase their body mass as they mature, and most have reached maximum plumes at nine months old.
How fast do chicks really grow?
FAQ
What age is chicken full grown?
Chickens are generally considered full-grown around one year old.
Can I put my 5 week old chickens outside?
Generally, 5-week-old chickens are not fully ready to be outside full-time, but you can start introducing them to supervised outdoor time in a safe, protected space. They need to be fully feathered and able to regulate their own body temperature, which usually happens around 6-8 weeks old.
At what age is a chicken no longer a pullet?
Pullets refer to young chickens that are less than one year of age. Order sexed pullet chicks when purchasing layers.
At what age do you butcher chickens?
When chickens are killed for meat depends on the breed and the size that is wanted. For broiler breeds, it’s usually between 5 and 12 weeks, but for heritage or dual-purpose breeds, it can be up to 6 to 8 months later.
When do chickens grow?
Weeks 5-15: The teenage chicken stage During weeks 5 and 6, chicks will go through visible growth changes, including new primary feathers and a developing pecking order. Growing birds are now referred to differently. Pullet is the term for a teenage female, while a young male is called a cockerel.
When do chickens become adults?
First, they are baby chicks for the first four weeks. Then, they become teenage chickens from weeks 5 to 15. Next, they reach the point of lay between weeks 16 and 18. Finally, they become adult chickens after week 19. How long does it take for a chicken to reach full maturity?.
How many growth stages do chickens go through?
Chickens go through six main growth stages, from baby chick to retirement. Each stage has specific nutritional and care needs. For example, chicks need a starter-grower feed with at least 18% protein. Laying hens require a diet higher in calcium to support egg production.
How long do chickens live?
“Chickens generally live between three to five years, with some breeds living longer. ” Pullets mature at about 18 weeks, starting to lay eggs. As hens age, they may get arthritis. Knowing the chicken growth stages helps owners care for them well. Chicks grow fast from the moment they hatch.
How fast do baby chickens grow?
Baby chicks are small and fluffy, but they grow fast. They double their weight many times in the first few weeks. Their soft down turns into adult feathers. By weeks 7-15, the poultry growth differences between young females and males are clear. When chickens reach adulthood at 18 weeks, they show off their full feathers.
How long does a broiler chicken take to grow?
Look at their body condition, feather growth, and health. Broiler chickens can grow fast, reaching 6 pounds in just 42 days. Compare your chickens’ growth to the chart’s milestones. Broilers should grow a lot in the first week. This helps you spot any issues early. Keep detailed records of your chickens’ growth.