Hens will self-regulate their intake as they instinctively know when they need it. Do you have young spring chickens at home? WebEarliest egg laying chickens If you're looking for a breed of chickens to lay eggs sooner rather than later, these 5 should be on your list! How is your hen interacting with the rest of the flock? If you want to keep your girls laying over winter, see our article here. In general, heavier chicken breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, and Orpingtons, tend to lay a bit later. Generally, chickens that are heavier will also take longer to start laying eggs. Your email address will not be published. What age do chickens usually start laying eggs? After they have managed to lay that first egg they will start to settle into the daily routine and wont be much bothered by laying an egg. WebDuring ideal day length (14-16 hours of light) and with adequate nutrition, housing, and management, hens (depending on breed) should begin producing eggs when they are18- 22 weeks old. Awesome article! Chickens And More is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and any other affiliated sites. She will lay 6-7 eggs a week for close to 3 years. Hi Cindy, collecting the eggs on a daily basis will help keep your hens from going broody where they will sit on the eggs in hopes that they will hatch. The downside of this is that they usually dont live much longer than three years and production drops off in the second year. We ship anywhere in the U.S. (except Alaska and Hawaii), 2023 The Hen House Collection by Bird-in-Hand Pet Structures | Privacy Policy. Australrops, Leghorns, and other smaller breeds tend to lay eggs earlier. This can help you save money if you are on a budget. The myth is that your chickens earlobe color determines the color of eggs your hen will lay. Read more Worms are a living soil amendment, says Cornell University, and a key component to the vitality of our garden! You can get very creative in how you make your own nesting box. As you reach that 18-week mark, one can get pretty antsy. Egyptian Fayoumis live for eight Other top egg-laying breeds include the Golden Comet, Australorp, Sussex, and Leghorn. When do chickens start laying eggs in a chicken coop? Every chicken and breed is different (just like humans! That being said, some breeds start laying younger while others take a little longer. Eventually, it will happen. This includes breeds such as Red Comets, Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, Leghorns and Easter Eggers. As chickens age, they naturally slow down. The downside of this is that they usually dont live much longer than three years and production drops off in the second year. If so, I bet youre eagerly waiting for those fresh eggs to arrive. Change the water frequently and consider using nipple drinkers to streamline the process. Chickens earlobes can come in a variety of colors, from red to blue to white or iridescent. However, when she starts to squat, it is a good sign that she is getting ready by acclimating herself to this kind of behavior. If your hens cant get into a nest box, they may hold off on laying until they find a suitable location. Required fields are marked *. The myth is that your chickens earlobe color determines the color of eggs your hen will lay. How often do chickens lay eggs in the wild? Remember that the quantity and freshness of your feed matter, too. Using safe, sanitary, and clean methods in your coop will drastically reduce the chance of disease. Your chickens will start laying eggs so try not to stress yourself out and enjoy the ride! We arent sure which one, but it was found in a bird bath hole. Other top egg-laying breeds include the Golden Comet, Australorp, Sussex, and Leghorn. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, such as Amazon links. There really is not a set time limit for this but the transition between feed should be finished by week 20. Many commercial strains have been bred to start laying as early as 18 weeks. They rely on you for their every need when they are chicks and yet will grow into confident and personable chickens. At 18 weeks, choose a complete layer feed with the Purina Oyster Strong System to help your hens lay strong and stay strong. You can get very creative in how you make your own nesting box. But you are probably wondering just when do chickens start laying eggs? Chickens need a certain amount of sunlight to lay eggs which usually correlates to certain times of the year, as in, Spring through Summer is usually their most productive time. Is she hanging out more with the rooster? Chickens tend to like laying eggs in a clutch, where other eggs are. Hi Joan, how many chickens are in your flock and how many of them are silkies that are staying outside? This is a question that most new backyard chicken owners have. Be sure to check out the video of Phoebe laying an egg at the end of this post! . You may find that one will start laying at 17 weeks old while another from the same clutch wont start until the 20th week. You might have to wait for a while before you truly start reaping the rewards of owning chickens, especially if you just brought them home. These breeds will start to lay at around 16-20 weeks of age. Resist the temptation to prolong the amount of time that you keep them on high protein ration. I was so egg cited! Is there adequate roosting inside the coop for all of your chickens? Pullets, or young hens, generally reach laying age at around sixteen weeks of age although this can be slightly older or younger depending on the breed. In general, chickens begin laying eggs when they are six months old, although this depends on the breed. In general, chickens start laying eggs at 6 months old. Chickens earlobes can come in a variety of colors, from red to blue to white or iridescent. In addition to switching your girls over to a layer-specific feed, you should also add a calcium supplement. Young hens, or pullets, begin to lay between 18-22 weeks in age, around six months. Answer: Chickens lay as early as 16 weeks of age! This breed, developed in Andalusia, Spain, is renowned for its confidence and beautiful appearance. If youre going the other route and breeding your chickens, you can educate yourself more about your hens breed and see what the standard is for them. The average age that a young female chicken starts to lay an egg is around 6 months of age (or around 24 weeks of age). Usually, most pullets are around 18 and 24 weeks old (4 to 5 1/2 months) when they start laying eggs. Here are some good choices for nest box They will take turns using the boxes, but you can add additional boxes for extra hens if necessary. Let the Hen House Collection help you in your endeavors and create a custom chicken coop thatll meet your needs. My name is Deanna, aka DeannaCat. I find it funny that crowing roosters are banned in many urban areas, because hens can be damn vocal too! Hello, I found this article very interesting I didnt know about the squat! Some research indicates that the average hen will produce about 600 eggs in her lifetime. Chickens earlobes can come in a variety of colors, from red to blue to white or iridescent. They are one of few breeds to reliability lay blue eggs, so I can appreciate youre anxious to start collecting their eggs. When do chickens start laying eggs with different diets? If you want to raise a breed of chicken that will lay eggs very young, consider raising a newer breed like Golden Comets. If you find that your feed bill has suddenly gone through the roof, dont panic! Just be patient, and remember that other factors come into play, including the breed and time of year. Often, the first eggs are laid irregularly or are smaller or oddly shaped when compared with a typical egg. December and wintertime in general is a period where most birds will stop laying eggs. But they are well fed and no sickness. All she is doing is trying to familiarize herself with her new digs, and theres nothing you need to do (or should do) to discourage or encourage this behavior. The large majority of chickens will all start to lay eggs sometime between 16-20 weeks old. WebThe Earlobe Myth. If you want to get more technical about things, pick your chicken up. Jump to: However, if your hen is lacking a good supply of water, this can also affect his or her laying patterns. Consider your chicken breeds very carefully when buying your backyard chickens. When a hen squats, she is signaling to a rooster that she is mature enough to be bred and she is essentially inviting him over for the act! Many commercial strains have been bred to start laying as early as 18 weeks. Some research indicates that the average hen will produce about 600 eggs in her lifetime. and I dont blame you! Think of them as children. In the wild chickens are happy to lay eggs just about anywhere: dust bath, under the rose bush and other interesting places. The hens of this breed lay 200 light-speckled brown eggs or chocolate-colored eggs weighing 2.1-3 ounces yearly. Here are a few of our other chicken related articles if you are interested: Help, My Chicken is Molting! Some breeds will begin laying eggs as early as 16 weeks old, while others may not lay their Whether it is crumble or pellet does not matter, although crumble is easier for bantams and smaller breeds to eat. Why would they suddenly stop laying? What to Expect & How to Care for Molting Chickens, Feeding Chickens Eggshells or Oyster Shells for Essential Calcium & Health, Chickens Eating Eggs? However once she has laid her first egg she may go for a few days or a week without laying another egg. Some hit puberty way younger than others. If you decide to expose your hen to extended periods of light it can cause her to lay more eggs throughout the winter months. Poor nutrition has a negative impact on every animal, so the same rule goes for chickens who are beginning to lay eggs. At 18 weeks, choose a complete layer feed with the Purina Oyster Strong System to help your hens lay strong and stay strong. In general, chickens begin laying eggs when they are six months old, although this depends on the breed. 9 Ways to Prevent or Stop It. We have 3 Easter eggers.yesterday Eleanor laid her first blue egg!!! A chicken typically starts laying eggs around 18 weeks. Even if your pullet is ready to lay in January, she might wait until the days are longer.