When will my chickens lay eggs?
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Chickens | 661 comments
Even though I know that egg laying is unpredictable at this time of year, it’s always a bit disappointing when I lift the lid of the nesting box and there’s only one. An egg from Carol. She is firing on all cylinders now and producing one egg a day, the maximum that a domestic hen can produce.
“What’s going on with the other four chickens?” I think as I stump back through the garden in my dressing gown and wellies.
The other four chickens are elderly maidens, well into their third year. I know that after two years egg production diminishes but somehow I hoped that the organic food and beautiful adornments in the pen might make a difference. Of course they don’t. As the years roll by, the chickens will produce fewer and fewer eggs until they go to that great pecking ground in the sky.
The pretty white bantams, have never been very obliging on the egg laying front. In their prime, they probably only laid two or three eggs a week. They are not a laying strain and we knew this when we bought them. But we have discovered that they are very photogenic and are happy to model endlessly.
I’ve been checking the hen’s combs. A pink comb indicates that a chicken is going broody, and will not lay. They are all a bright vibrant red, including Mrs Boss (this chicken won The Broodiest of all Known Chickens Award 2004, 2005 and 2006).
So you can imagine my delight when I lifted the roof of the nesting box this morning and found two small eggs nestling beside Carol’s large speckled brown one. I sprang back to the kitchen to make the perfect breakfast omelette.
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every ones probably sick of seeing my name on this site.but the only reason i give so many replys is because i have quiet a lot of experience with most of the problems sandra if your buying young hens now if theyve been fully vacinated they will go through winter like ducks on water.give them good pellets and they will lay
I have just found this site and am now wondering if we have made a mistake in leaving it till now to get hens. Our henhouse is arriving tomorrow and we were hoping to buy a couple this week (if we can). From reading this site I realize we wontget any eggs till the new year which is fine as it will give us time to get used to our new friends. Are we likely to have any additional problems getting them so late in the year?
elizabeth your hen house is big enough for 20 hens dont worry about that.nest boxes straw or hay is better.for the floor fine sawdust as it is much easier to scrape droppings up.if your hens are just starting to lay the cold weather and early dark nights will knock them off a bit but even through winter you should still get 3 or 4 eggs a week off each bird providing they are only young.
I’m so glad I found this site.
We have 4 hens, though I haven’t a clue to their breed. We hatched “our ladies” from eggs last April. I have a few questions about caring for them and about eggs.
I was wondering if their coop is too small. It’s a triangle shape design, 8ft long and 5 feet wide, there are two nesting boxes inside their little home elevated to 2-3ft above the ground and 3 areas for them to perch.
Secondly, what is the best material to use for their nesting box? They prefer to roost in this area.
A few days ago 1 or 2 of the hens began to lay. We have only had two eggs in 4 days…may not be a lot but we were egg-cited. Should I be concern that my sister’s hen (just one hen) from the same hatched eggs began to lay weeks ago and lays 1-2 eggs a day? I think I’m doing a pretty good job in caring for ours, but I’m concerned. We live is South Cali, and the weather just now began to cool down.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Elizabeth C.
i love chickens same as everyone else on this page.but i keep my hens for selling eggs .its a great hobby keeping hens but why noy make a few quid while still enjoying it.the problem with buying battery hens 2 or 3 years on they start dropping dead cause theyve layed them selfs to death.warrens or white leghorn are obviously the best layers 340 eggs in the first year.thats if you buy point of lay i pay 5 pound each for them. and only 1 pound for battery hens.the young warrens ive got now are 8 month old ive 30 i get on average 25 eggs off them a day fed on 50 percent wheat 50 percent layers pellets.if you can afford it your always better buying pullets
Hi John
I reckon that it will be January before you see an egg. Our Maran hatched Aril 23 and we got our first egg January the next year.
Hi Stuart
Thanks so smuch for giving advice. It would be great if I’m proved wrong and that John gets a few eggs over the winter!!
Thanks for the info Suart 3 or 4 eggs will do just fine
marans at least 25 week old but although pullets through the winter you may only get 3 or 4 eggs a week
Hi everyone
have just 2 young Marans at what age do they start laying I realise that time of year and weather afect this. they are approx 18 weeks
thanks for the reply was getting a little worried,thought may b they were unhappy,they have a lovely hen house and have the run of our big garden during the day.got them in the summer when they were at pol,and they have been laying every day up until a few weeks ago.