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! This behavior is often misinterpreted as a sign of affection when really, it’s a reproductive behavior and you are triggering it by serving as the dominant presence in the chicken coop. Once they do start laying though they are egg machines! Hens start to lay at 4-5 months of age but don’t produce regularly until about 7 months. Laying slows with less than 12 hours of daylight and hens tend to stop laying with less than 10 hours of daylight. Hens lay eggs whether there's a male in the flock or not. Chickens vs Guinea Hens: How to Choose Which to Raise, Introducing New Chickens to Your Flock (How-To Guide). All you need to do is put your hand out over her. Chicken breeds that are slow to develop to maturity may not lay until the age of about 8 months, or even later. If you have Easter Eggers or similar breeds of chickens, you can expect to start getting eggs at around twenty weeks of age. Every chicken is different especially from breed to breed but we typically see our hens start laying around the 18 week mark. 9 Years. 4. Most hens will be finished laying regularly within four years. Having to conduct an Easter Egg hunt to find the eggs! Some chicken breeds such as Sex Links, Australorps, Golden Comets, and Leghorns can start laying eggs as early as 17-19 weeks. Without a rooster the eggs will not be fertile, so would never have the capacity to grow into chicks. Made from galvanized steel making it very durable and rust proof, Heavy Duty making it much harder to flip over, Steel construction making it compatible with heater bases. Araucana hens are great layers, typically laying around 200-230 blue – that’s right, blue! Raising Goats – The Complete How To Guide, What Do Quails Eat? Even if you provide them with enough water and protein, your hens still … Other breeds, like Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, and Delawares also lay eggs relatively early – usually around eighteen weeks of age. Maintaining healthy fiber-rich and high enough protein in chicken food is very important in encouraging healthy egg production. The first year of a chicken’s life will usually be the best from an egg-laying perspective. Even if your pullet is ready to lay in January, she might wait until the days are longer. So you’ve made the decision to invest in a flock of backyard laying hens. Healthy chickens lay eggs most reliably in their first 2 to 3 years. Calcium helps support the development of strong egg shells. No. Providing free-choice access to feed is your best bet. These boxes should be elevated off the floor in the darkest corner of the coop. Remember – they are doing some serious work here! Frequently Asked Questions about Chickens for Eggs and Meat 1. Still waiting impatiently for that first egg? In general, chickens start laying eggs at 6 months old. Lots and lots of people ask me this question. Don’t get too excited -there may still be some time left before she begins the process of actually laying an egg. You want to increase day length in order to drive your hens to lay. Some breeds, however, can lay much sooner than others. While most hens will start laying between 4 & 6 months old, it might just be a little too early for your hen to lay. Although research indicates that chickens will start laying eggs from 17 weeks onwards, in reality, it can never be truly predicted. These are often considered hybrid breeds, and they start laying at around sixteen to eighteen weeks of age. If your hens can’t get into a nest box, they may hold off on laying until they find a suitable location. This unique looking breed of chicken is a great backyard pet. You can’t exactly set your watch by laying age, as it is highly variable. Is she hanging out more with the rooster? Some chickens won’t lay as pullets at all – and they’ll go from laying no eggs right to full-sized eggs. 2) hens are too old to lay: Egg production in most hens slows down after age two. How to choose the perfect breed of chicken for you- including our top 5 beginner picks. Just as humans need to grow to achieve reproductive maturity, so do chickens. Finding the first little eggs is such a reward for all the hard work we put into our chicks all summer long. It should be between 16 to 24 weeks. Around 18 months of age and annually after, chickens go through molt, which is defined as a … material: Daylight hours are critical when it comes to encouraging a hen to lay. While you need to maintain good nutrition throughout every stage of your hens’ lives, providing adequate nutrition during the pre-laying days is exceptionally vital. , you can even start layer feed after they lay their first 2 to years! 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