If you bought some baby chicks last fall, you might be wondering where the first egg is. Finding the first egg from a group of new pullets is one of the most exciting parts of raising chickens for eggs. Whether this is your first flock or your 100th flock, finding that first egg is so exciting EVERY SINGLE TIME. We will go over how breed, season, brooding, diet, and illness can affect production. We also offer a few signs to look out for that let you know when your chicken is about to lay an egg. While we eagerly watch for the first egg, it’s important to know that the age in which a newly-matured hen will lay can vary greatly based on its breed. There are hens that will lay eggs as early as 4 months old, while others may not be fully grown until much later. e. , laying eggs) until closer to 6 or 8 months of age.
How Old is a Chicken Before it Lays Eggs?
If you just got chickens for the first time, you may be wondering when your hens will start laying eggs. When a pullet (a young female chicken younger than a year old) starts laying eggs depends on a number of factors. Usually, eggs are laid between 18 and 24 weeks of age, but this can change.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about when chickens start laying eggs, such as:
- The difference between pullets and hens
- Factors that influence age at first lay
- Typical laying ages by breed
- How to encourage early egg laying
- What to expect from your flock’s egg production
Understanding Pullets and Hens
A chicken has to grow up from a pullet to a laying hen before it can lay eggs. Here’s what you need to know about these two terms .
-
Pullet: A female chicken less than 1 year old that has not yet begun to lay eggs. Pullets typically begin laying between 18-24 weeks of age.
-
A hen is a female chicken that is at least one year old and has started leaving eggs. An active laying hen is called a layer.
The transition from pullet to hen happens gradually as the chicken matures. You’ll notice changes in appearance as they develop, like growth of the comb and wattle, fuller tail feathers, and a larger abdomen prior to laying their first egg.
Factors that Influence Age at First Lay
Several key factors impact the age at which a pullet will begin laying eggs, including:
-
Breed – Smaller breeds tend to mature and start laying earlier than heavier breeds.
-
Health and nutrition – A balanced layer feed and proper care promotes early maturity.
-
Season/day length – Decreasing daylight can delay onset of laying.
-
Stress – Overcrowding, predators, and illness can inhibit development.
-
Genetics – Some individual birds are early or late bloomers.
Typical Laying Ages by Breed
The age a pullet starts laying can vary quite a bit between different chicken breeds. Here are typical laying ages for some popular backyard chicken breeds:
- Leghorns: 16-18 weeks
- Rhode Island Reds: 18-20 weeks
- Orpingtons: 24-28 weeks
- Marans: 28-30 weeks
- Brahmas: 28-32 weeks
As you can see, lightweight white egg layers like Leghorns tend to mature the fastest. Heavier brown egg breeds can take 6-8 weeks longer to begin laying eggs.
Encouraging Early Egg Production
To get your pullets laying as early as possible, focus on providing excellent care and nutrition:
-
Feed a quality 16-18% protein layer feed.
-
Ensure constant access to fresh, clean water.
-
Allow at least 4 square feet of coop space per hen.
-
Reduce stress by avoiding overcrowding and limiting loud noises.
-
Offer oyster shell for extra calcium.
-
Supplement feed with boiled eggs, mealworms or sunflower seeds.
-
Use artificial lighting to extend daylight hours.
Following these tips will help your pullets stay healthy and develop to the point of lay as quickly as possible based on their breed.
What to Expect from Egg Production
Once your pullets reach lay, egg production will gradually increase and reach a peak. Here’s a typical timeline:
- 16-22 weeks: 10-15% production
- 22-30 weeks: 50% production
- 30-52 weeks: full production of 4-6 eggs/week
- 2-3 years old: peak production of 6 eggs/week
After peak lay is reached, expect a gradual decline in egg production as your hens age. Laying will likely stop completely as they reach 8-10 years old.
To maintain good production over your hens’ lifetimes, continue feeding a quality layer ration and follow best practices for flock health and coop sanitation. Removing non-productive hens and introducing younger pullets can help sustain higher egg numbers in your backyard flock.
The Takeaway
Knowing what to expect as your pullets transition into active laying hens is an important part of raising backyard chickens. Follow their development closely, provide excellent nutrition and care, and you’ll have a bounty of farm-fresh eggs before you know it! Most standard breeds will come into lay between 18-24 weeks of age.
With patience and proper management during the crucial first year, your hard-working hens will keep your egg basket full for years to come. Enjoy getting to know your flock’s personalities as you embark on your journey as a chicken keeper.
How Does Breed Affect Laying Age?
Many types of chicken breeds are prolific layers and have a strong genetic predisposition to maturing early. Under ideal conditions, you can anticipate your first egg from these breeds as early as 4 months. Examples of early-maturing layers include, but are not limited to, Single Comb White Leghorns, New Hampshires, Red Island Reds, and many of our egg-type hybrids (ISA Browns, Red Sex Links, Golden Comets, etc. ). However, don’t be alarmed if your new girls aren’t laying at 4 months. Many of our slower-growing breeds and most of our colorful egg-laying types won’t reach maturity until 5 to 6 months of age. Examples of these layers include, but are not limited to, Polish, Buff Orpingtons, Olive Eggers, and Ameraucanas.
How Does Old Age Affect Laying?
As a hen ages, her egg production decreases, as well as the thickness of her shell. It’s important to remember that less work may not always be caused by stress, illness, or other issues; it could just be old age. Some hens will keep laying eggs, but it will be at a slower rate and usually bigger eggs. Most of the hens will stop.
When and What Age Do Chickens Start To Lay Eggs
FAQ
What is the 90/10 rule for chickens?
The 90% rule for chickens is a feeding guideline that says 90% of a chicken’s daily food should be complete feed, and the other 10% can be treats.
Is it cheaper to raise chickens or buy eggs?
Raising chickens is generally not cheaper than buying eggs, especially in the short term and when considering the initial setup costs.
How old is a chicken before it starts laying eggs?
The average age of a chicken to lay an egg is between 18 and 24 weeks, which is about 4 to 6 months. However, the exact age can vary depending on the breed and other factors like nutrition and environment.