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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I have one silkie who is a rather old lady – given to me as a pet as she was being picked on by a friend’s other chickens, and a rather lovely looking Brown Leghorn. I brought her at a rather young age back in July time and as of yet, she has not produced a single egg! They are both fed a diet of mixed organic corn, scraps and grit. Do you think I am doing some thing wrong? I’d be greatful for any advice offered… x
We have 2 Light Sussex and 4 Warrens. They are in their first year. They reward me with 3/5 eggs a day, even in November. No artificial light but lots of fresh veg, corn as a treat. I would quite understand if the needed a rest!
a friend of mine hes 64 years old and he as a small piece of land near me.he bought 2 aylesbury f27s hybred ducks for is grandaughter last november. he bought them as they were just starting there second lay and i swear to god even to this morning eccept for a one week break he gets 2 eggs every single day with out fail.
hi heather its same here in england very cold.wear i keep my hens 120 or 130 theres no electric as there in a field away from houses so the only real way i can have lighting or heating is with a generator or solar panel.but the problem is every so often we have kids breaking in and killing the hens so its not a good idea for us to have any form of lighting.its not so much the cold that stops the hens from laying its the short hours of light were getting.100 of my hybreds are just coming into there second and third lay i get the same problem every year september october november 15 or 20 eggs a day but same as fn said after 21st december they start again then shoulb be 70 or 80 days. but like most breeds with the exeption of warrens 25 to 30 week before they start laying HAPPY CLUCKING WHAT A FANTASTIC SITE ALL THANKS TO FN.
Hello Heather
It is winter and cold. Good idea to keep a heat lamp on in your neck of the woods. It is winter so these expected laying dates are crazy. I have been looking after a range of hens (young and old) for friends recently. There were very few eggs – perhaps 2 in 3 weeks!
When they days start to get longer, after December 21st, expect the possibility of an egg. Your hens are far too young too lay at 20 weeks in the winter. If they were 20 weeks in the summer it’s a totally different story. Although I always reckon on a hen not laying before six – seven months to avoid disappointment. If they mature to this age during the winter months I would definitely extend my expectations and not expect an egg until January or February.
Sometimes breeders can be a bit misleading.
Allways provide laying/nesting boxes. These encourage hens to lay. Set them in a dark place and make them inviting and comfortable.
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Hi Stuart, I live in southern Michigan Its been getting in the mid 30s here at night, so i have been keeping the heat lamp on, so It is ok to have it on all night? Its pluged in outside, Thats why I havent added a timer. I have full bred 1 rhode Island red, 1 Buff Brahams and 1 buff orphington and 1 buff orphington rooster. I read they will start to lay 18-20 weeks. They are now 20 weeks.They still havnt laid an egg. I have heard some people around here said their chickens will lay all winter? We just have a coop and a run for them should we make some laying boxes for them. We live in town and just have a small coop for them with some straw in it. Thanks for all your help, It is very appreciative. Heather
Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate it. I had to drive a bit farther to find the Purina Layena for pullets but I got 50#. That should keep them pecking for awhile. I need to look up East Anglia in the Atlas since I don’t know where it is. I’m one of those folks who has to see pictures in my head in order to wrap my brain around a subject, person or place. Here in the U.S. there seems to be a chicken craze in the works. Folks you wouldn’t suspect are closet chicken owners. I use mine as a teachng tool as well as a source of entertainment. I take foster children and many are city kids who think computer games are a pet. I don’t have TV and screen time is limited for the kids (and me). Anyhoo, thanks again. I’m sure I’ll have bunches of questions in the future. 🙂
fn one of my friends bought 12 warrens from the same place as me 5 pound each he bought them in march they had just started laying hes still getting 10 eggs a day.by the way i live in rotherham south yorkshireand its freezing and raining.as i said a dont breed my own.
fn i bought 23 warrens on 5th june they were 19 week old.2 week later i was getting 10 or 11 eggs a day.then within 1 month 5 suddenly died in the nest boxes probably egg bound but im not certain.then till the end of september i was getting roughly 10 eggs a day.now in the last month every day a gaurantee 16 eggs a day.ive just in the last hour come from my allotment and ive got 18 eggs just from my 18 pullets.as for fertile eggs i dont keep any cockrils.when i get 30 hens die i then buy 30 pullets to replace them.
Hello Mora and Emma
Shorter colder days decrease egg laying. When your hens are over two years old they will probably not lay during this short period. You can put a light in the hen house. This will force them to lay as the chickens will think that it’s summer and start layinng again.
If you do this their lives will be signifisntly shorter as yours would be if you worked seven days a week 365 days a year.
I reckon that the mid winter break (October to January is their ‘weekend’). So we don’t go down this route but do miss the eggs!