When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?

When you’re raising chickens for eggs, the questions come faster than a hen chasing a bug. From how many eggs a chicken lays per day to whether they need a rooster to lay, egg production is a fascinating, daily miracle worth understanding in detail.

This FAQ is your ultimate guide to chicken egg productivity rooted in experience, homesteading wisdom, and science. So grab a fresh cup of coffee and let’s crack this egg wide open.

Daily Production: How Many Eggs Do Chickens Produce Per Day?

One chicken = up to 1 egg per day. So if you have a flock of 5 healthy layers, you can expect 4–5 eggs per day in peak laying season.

What Is the Average Egg Production of a Chicken?

On average, a backyard laying hen will produce about 250–280 eggs per year during her most productive years.

How Many Eggs Will One Chicken Produce?

If a hen lays 250 eggs/year for 3 years, she’ll provide 750 eggs in her lifetime, not counting any in her later years.

At What Age Do Chickens Stop Laying Eggs?

Most hens slow down by age 4 and may stop entirely by 6–7 years, but some continue laying an egg now and then into their golden years.

Top Egg Layer: What Chicken Breed Has the Highest Egg Production?

The crown goes to the ISA Brown, a hybrid designed for consistent, daily laying. She can produce 300+ eggs per year in peak condition.

Honorable Mentions:

• Golden Comet – Up to 320/year
• Australorp – Often wins backyard laying contests!
   

How Long Does It Take for Chickens to Hatch Eggs?

If you’re incubating fertilized eggs, the incubation period is 21 days. You can use a broody hen or an egg incubator (set at 99.5°F and 45–55% humidity). The final days before hatching require increased humidity and minimal interference.

How Old Do Chickens Have to Be to Lay Eggs?

Keepers often mark the calendar and watch closely for first-lay signs like singing, nesting, or sudden excitement in the coop. Most chickens start laying around 18–22 weeks. However, this can vary depending on:

• Breed
• Season
• Nutrition
• Health 

Egg Laying Chickens: What Makes Them Tick?

If you're raising chickens for eggs, choosing breeds specifically designed for egg productivity is key. Not all chickens are bred for laying. Layer breeds have been selected for their ability to convert feed efficiently into eggs. Characteristics include:

• Slim, upright bodies
• High activity levels
• Short rest periods between laying cycles

How Do Chickens Lay Eggs?

The entire process takes about 25–26 hours. Here’s the egg-laying cycle step-by-step:

• Yolk release: From the ovary into the oviduct
• Egg white formation: Protein surrounds the yolk
• Shell formation: Shell forms in the uterus via calcium deposits
• Pigmentation: Shell color is added near the end
• Laying: The egg exits large-end first
   

Do Chickens Need a Rooster to Lay Eggs?

Nope! Hens don’t need a rooster to lay eggs, only to produce fertilized eggs that could develop into chicks. Without a rooster, eggs are unfertilized and perfectly safe to eat. This is ideal for backyard flock keepers who just want eggs and not more baby chicks.

How Does a Chicken Egg Get Fertilized?

If a rooster is present, he mates with the hen and fertilizes the egg inside her before the shell forms. Fertilized eggs still look and taste the same but could develop into chicks if incubated.

If there’s no rooster, the egg will never contain a developing embryo.

Do Chickens Lay Eggs in the Winter?

They can, but egg production slows or even stops in winter due to shorter daylight hours and colder temps. Chickens need 14–16 hours of daylight to maintain regular laying.

Some homesteaders use artificial lighting in coops to stimulate production, but allowing a natural rest during winter supports long-term health and sustainability.

Can Chickens Lay Eggs Without a Rooster?

Yes! It’s one of the most common questions, and the answer is absolutely yes. Egg laying is a biological process, not dependent on fertilization. Your hens will lay regardless of whether there’s a rooster around.

When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?

Hens typically begin laying eggs at 18–20 weeks old (around 4–5 months), though this can vary depending on breed, nutrition, and daylight exposure.

Fast-maturing breeds like Leghorns and Golden Comets may start earlier, while heritage breeds like Orpingtons may take their time. Look for signs of readiness: increased activity around nesting boxes, squatting behavior, and a bright red comb and wattles.

How Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs?

Once she’s in full swing, a healthy hen can lay an egg nearly every 24–26 hours. But this isn’t guaranteed daily. Factors like breed, age, light exposure, diet, and stress play a big role. Egg laying slows down during the winter months, during a molt, or if she’s experiencing illness or poor nutrition.

How Long Do Chickens Lay Eggs?

Peak production lasts about 2 years, though hens can lay for 5–7 years. Many homesteaders keep older hens around for pest control, companionship, and fertilizing the garden. The egg production rate declines with age:

• Year 1–2: Peak (250–280 eggs/year)
• Year 3–4: Moderate decline
• Year 5+: Occasional or seasonal laying
   

How Many Eggs Do Chickens Lay Per Day?

A high-producing hen can lay 1 egg per day during her peak season, but not more than that. Chickens do not lay multiple eggs per day. The process from ovulation to egg-laying takes roughly 24–26 hours. Every hen’s rhythm is different, so don’t worry if you don’t get one every single day.

At Manna Pro we offer a full line of chicken coop essentials, supplements, and nutritionally balanced feeds to nurture all life stages of your flock. Manna Pro products are available at local farm and feed stores and online.

You’re invited to join Manna Pro on social media at @cityyolks, @YolkTubeByCityYolks, @mannaprohomestead, and @MannaProHomestead. We look forward to hearing from you and your flock!

Best Egg Laying Chickens

Looking for hens that really hustle? These breeds are the top egg layers on the homestead:

• Leghorn – 280–300 white eggs/year
• Golden Comet – 280–320 brown eggs/year
• Rhode Island Red – 250–300 brown eggs/year
• Australorp – Up to 300 large brown eggs/year
• Barred Rock (Plymouth Rock) – 200–280 eggs/year
• ISA Brown – 300+ eggs/year, known for consistency
   

What to Do While Chickens Aren’t Laying Eggs

During molts, winter, or illness, your hens may take a break. Here’s what to do:

• Check diet – Ensure adequate protein and calcium
• Limit stress – Protect from predators, overcrowding
• Give time – Let nature do its thing
• Clean coop – Sanitation impacts egg health
• Light management – Offer supplemental light if needed
   

Patience, good feed, and love usually bring them back into laying mode.

Chickens That Lay Colorful Eggs

Want a rainbow egg basket? A colorful egg carton is a homesteader’s delight and a natural Instagram moment! Try these breeds:

• Blue Eggs – Ameraucana, Araucana, Cream Legbar
• Green Eggs – Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers
• Dark Brown Eggs – Marans, Welsummers
• Pink or Speckled Eggs – Barred Rocks, Sussex 

Chickens That Lay Blue Eggs

Eggshell color is purely cosmetic and doesn’t affect taste or nutrition, but they sure are pretty in the carton! Yes, blue eggs are real! These chickens lay sky-colored stunners:

• Ameraucana
• Araucana
• Easter Egger (can lay blue, green, or pink)
   

Best Egg Laying Chickens for Beginners

For new flock keepers, start with:

• Golden Comet
• Australorp
• Plymouth Rock
• Buff Orpington
   

These are hardy, friendly, and reliable layers. Ideal for first-time chicken keepers!

At Manna Pro we offer a full line of chicken coop essentials, supplements, and nutritionally balanced chicken feeds to nurture all life stages of your flock. Manna Pro products are available at local farm and feed stores and online.

You’re invited to join Manna Pro on social media at @cityyolks, @YolkTubeByCityYolks, @mannaprohomestead, and @MannaProHomestead. We look forward to hearing from you and your flock!