Most hens lay their first egg between 18 and 22 weeks old. Production-bred layers like Leghorns and ISA Browns often start around 16 to 20 weeks, while heavy breeds like Orpingtons and Brahmas can take 6 to 8 months. Breed, daylight hours, nutrition and stress all shift that timeline.
If you're planning a flock or waiting on your first egg, here's what sets the timing, how to tell a pullet is close, and when to switch her feed.
What Affects When Hens Start Laying
Five factors decide whether your pullet lays at 16 weeks or 8 months.
- Breed: Lightweight, production-bred layers mature fastest. Heavy dual-purpose and ornamental breeds take longest.
- Season of hatch: Spring chicks reach laying age as days lengthen and often start on time. Summer chicks hit laying age as days shorten and may wait until late winter or spring.
- Light hours: Pullets need about 14 to 16 hours of light a day to start laying. Under 12 hours, laying slows or stops.
- Nutrition: Pullets need a complete grower feed with enough protein to build body weight. Underweight birds start late.
- Stress: Moving coops, predators, new flock mates and heat can all delay the first egg by days or weeks.
Laying Age by Breed
Typical ranges; individual birds vary.
|
Breed |
Type |
First egg (approx.) |
Eggs per year (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leghorn |
Production layer |
16–20 weeks |
280–320 |
|
ISA Brown |
Production hybrid |
18–20 weeks |
300+ |
|
Australorp |
Dual-purpose |
20–24 weeks |
250 |
|
Orpington |
Dual-purpose |
22–26 weeks |
175–200 |
|
Brahma |
Heavy breed |
24–32 weeks |
150 |
Signs Your Pullet Is About to Lay
Most pullets show a few clear changes in the 1 to 3 weeks before the first egg.
- Red comb and wattles: They grow larger and turn from pale pink to bright red.
- Squatting: She crouches low with wings slightly spread when you reach toward her. Learn more about why chickens squat or crouch down.
- Nest box interest: She checks out the nest boxes, sits in them or rearranges the bedding.
- Wider pelvis: The two pelvic bones under her vent spread apart. A gap of about two to three fingers usually means laying is close; one finger means she isn't ready yet.
- Bigger appetite and louder voice: Many pullets eat more and get chattier, sometimes with an "egg song" before laying.
When to Switch to Layer Feed
Switch to layer feed at about 18 weeks or when the first egg appears, whichever comes first. Layer feed carries the extra calcium a hen needs for strong shells, which growing pullets don't need yet. Switching too early can strain young kidneys; switching too late leads to thin shells.
Mix the new feed into the old over 7 to 10 days so the change doesn't put hens off their food. Offer crushed oyster shell on the side for extra calcium. Our Egg Layer Crumbles are made for this stage.
Peak Laying and How Production Changes With Age
Hens hit peak production in their first laying year, usually 6 to 8 weeks after the first egg (UF/IFAS Extension). After that, egg numbers, egg size and shell quality all drop a little each year (University of Wisconsin Extension). UC Cooperative Extension puts the yearly decline at roughly 10% to 20% (UCANR).
Expected Eggs by Year
Estimates for a good layer starting at about 250 eggs in year one, applying a 10–20% yearly decline.
|
Laying year |
Hen age (approx.) |
Eggs per year (est.) |
|---|---|---|
|
Year 1 |
5–18 months |
250 |
|
Year 2 |
18–30 months |
200–225 |
|
Year 3 |
2.5–3.5 years |
160–200 |
|
Year 4 |
3.5–4.5 years |
130–180 |
|
Year 5+ |
4.5 years and older |
Under 130, often sporadic |
Backyard hens can live 6 to 8 years, but most produce well for only 3 to 4. To keep eggs coming, plan to add young pullets every 2 to 3 years.
What Slows Egg Laying
Even healthy, laying-age hens take breaks. The three most common causes:
- Molting: Once a year, usually in fall, hens drop old feathers and grow new ones. Laying slows or stops for about 1 to 2 months while protein goes to feathers.
- Pecking order changes: Adding or removing birds reshuffles the flock. Lower-ranked hens may eat less and lay less until things settle.
- Short days: Laying drops when daylight falls below about 12 hours. Supplemental light, ideally added in the early morning, can keep hens closer to 14 hours.
Feed Every Stage With Nature's Best Organic Feeds
The right breed, good care and quality feed get your pullets laying on schedule and keep them laying for years. Nature's Best Organic Feeds comes from a family-owned and operated company in business since 1947, with organic chicken feeds for every life stage. Use our store locator to find a retailer near you.
