When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
Most hens start laying between 18 and 24 weeks, but the breed, the light and the feed all move that number. Here is what to expect week by week, and what actually delays a first egg.
The short answer
| Type | Typical first egg | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid layers (sex-links, ISA Brown) | 16–20 weeks | Bred to start early and lay hard |
| Dual-purpose (Orpington, Sussex) | 20–26 weeks | Slower, but larger eggs |
| Heritage / large breeds (Brahma, Jersey Giant) | 24–30 weeks | Can take 7+ months |
| Bantams | 18–24 weeks | Small eggs, often good setters |
Signs an egg is 1–2 weeks away
- The comb and wattles redden and swell. This is the most reliable single sign. A pale, small comb means not yet.
- She squats when you reach over her. A laying hen crouches and holds still — it is a mating posture, and it appears just before laying starts.
- She investigates the nest box. Poking around, sitting in it, rearranging bedding.
- Her pelvic bones spread. Feel either side of the vent: two fingers should fit easily between the points.
- She gets noisier. The pre-lay "egg song" is real, and some hens do it for days before the first egg.
What actually delays a first egg
Daylight
Hens need roughly 14 hours of light to lay. A pullet raised in autumn in a northern latitude may simply wait until spring. This is biology, not a problem — and it is why adding a light in winter is the single most effective intervention for adult hens.
Protein
Growing pullets need 16–18% protein. Chicks raised on scratch grain or kitchen scraps alone grow slowly and start late. A proper grower feed until 18 weeks, then layer feed, is the whole story.
Stress and crowding
Less than 2 sq ft per bird inside, or a constantly disrupted flock, delays onset. So does moving them to a new coop in the week they were due to start.
Moulting
A hen that moults before her first egg can lose 6–8 weeks. She puts protein into feathers instead.
What the first eggs look like
The first eggs are usually small — often half the size of a normal egg, sometimes without a proper shell. This is normal and settles within 2–4 weeks. Soft-shelled or shell-less first eggs are common and not a calcium deficiency on their own.
Expect 2–4 eggs the first week, not one a day. A hen's cycle takes about 25 hours, so she lays slightly later each day and then skips a day.
How many eggs to expect later
| Breed type | Eggs per week (peak) | Eggs per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid layer | 5–6 | 280–320 |
| Good dual-purpose | 4–5 | 200–250 |
| Heritage breed | 2–3 | 120–180 |
Production drops in the second year by roughly 15–20%, and hens moult each autumn — expect a 6–10 week pause.
Feeding for eggs
- Layer pellets or crumble, free choice — about 110–120 g per bird per day
- Oyster shell separate, never mixed into feed — hens take what they need
- Grit if they get anything beyond commercial feed
- Scraps under 10% of the diet — more dilutes protein and cuts laying
Common questions
Why is my 25-week-old hen not laying?
Check daylight first, then protein, then whether she is hiding eggs. Feel her pelvic bones and look at the comb colour — both tell you whether she is close.
Do you need a rooster for hens to lay?
No. Hens lay regardless. A rooster only affects whether the eggs are fertile.
How do I find hidden eggs?
Watch where she disappears to mid-morning, and check the same spot daily. A hen with a secret nest can build up a clutch of 15+ eggs.
Can you eat the first eggs?
Yes. Small pullet eggs are perfectly good — they are just smaller, which makes them excellent for boiling.
If you are starting from scratch — coop size, breeds, feeding amounts and the first year month by month: Backyard Chickens for Beginners.
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