When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 25, 2023
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While there are many reasons why you may choose to raise chickens on the homestead, one of the most beneficial additions chickens add to the homestead is their fresh eggs. But don’t expect to get chickens and have an immediate and endless supply of fresh eggs. Eggs are a product of a chicken’s reproductive cycle. Like any animal, chickens need time to mature and grow before they can start reproducing. Don’t rush your chickens into laying. Being patient and watching for the natural signs that eggs will soon be forthcoming is the best way to keep your young homestead flock healthy, and eventually productive!
When Do Pullets Start Laying?
For the purpose of clarification, we will be discussing when a pullet will start laying eggs. A pullet is a female chicken under 1 year of age. A pullet and a hen are both female chickens, however, the term pullet is usually used to refer to a hen who has not started laying yet or who is under 1 year of age.
Most homestead chicken breeds will start laying around 20-22 weeks of age. However, the range of when pullets will start laying can be as soon as 18 weeks of age or closer to 7-8 months of age!
Chicken breeds bred for egg production, including production hybrid breeds, will start laying eggs sooner than dual-purpose chicken breeds. Production breeds may start laying as soon as 18 weeks of age, but they often don’t have as long of a productive lifespan compared to breeds who start laying later. This is especially true of high production breeds who produce eggs at intense levels, like an egg every day.
- Hybrid Breeds– Golden Comet, Black Star, ISA Brown, etc…
- Production Breeds– Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, etc…
- Heritage Breeds– Oprington, Favorelle, Plymouth Rocks, etc…
- Large Breeds– Brahma, Jersey Giant, Cochin, etc…
Heritage chicken breeds and slow-maturing chicken breeds will take even longer to reach productive age. The pullets from heritage, slow-maturing, or large chicken breeds tend to start laying closer to 24 weeks of age or even later.
Tips for Recognizing the ‘First Egg’
When a pullet first starts laying, her eggs will not be the normal size for her breed. Pullets will usually lay small, or ‘mini’, eggs when their reproductive system is just getting started. These eggs are often affectionately called ‘fairy eggs’. How small a pullet’s ‘fairy egg’ is usually depends on the breed and what the normal egg size is for the breed.
As the pullet’s reproductive system kicks into gear, the eggs she lays will gradually get bigger until they reach the normal size for the breed. Don’t be surprised if you occasionally find an abnormal looking egg or two when young pullets first start laying. Sometimes their system’s have a few quirks to work out! Double-yolkers and odd-shaped eggs are sometimes products of a pullet’s first month or two of production.
A young pullet may not jump right into a regular laying cycle. She may lay her first egg, then take a several days break. As her productive system gets going, she will soon settle into the normal laying cycle for her breed. Whether that be an egg every other day, 4-5 eggs a week, or an egg every day.
When Can I Collect Eggs for Hatching?
If you are breeding your chickens and want to start collecting eggs for hatching, wait until the pullets have been laying for at 6 weeks and the eggs are the normal size for the breed. Young cockerels (male chicken under 1 year of age) can be used for breeding at around 6 months of age.
5 Signs a Pullet Will Start Laying Soon
#1. Large & Bright Red Comb & Wattles
The hormones that are produced prior and during egg laying also cause some of a hen’s external appearance to change. A hen who is getting ready to lay will develop a larger comb and wattles that will gradually switch from a pale pink color to vibrant, healthy red color.
When a hen is laying, her comb and wattles will remain large, bright, and healthy. One sign that a hen is not laying (or has stopped laying) is when her comb and wattles turn back to a pale color and get smaller. Pale and shriveled-looking combs and wattles can indicate illness or disease.
If you notice that one of your young birds is developing a larger comb and wattles at a young age, say around 5-8 weeks of age, then that is a pretty good indication that you have a rooster, not a hen who is getting ready to lay!
#2. Submissive Squat
The submissive squat is when a hen or pullet crouches low to the ground with her wings held out to either side when you approach her or go to pick her up. This behavior is an instinctual mating behavior. A hen will do this to invite a rooster to mount her for mating.
When young pullets start exhibiting this behavior, it means their reproductive hormones have kicked in and they will start laying soon.
#3. Bigger Appetite
Laying eggs requires a lot of energy! As pullets get close to laying age, you may notice that they start going through the feed bags faster. The feeder gets empty more quickly as the pullets gear up for producing eggs. An increase in feed consumption can indicate that eggs are on their way!
Pullets will also need a change in diet prior to starting to lay. Not only will their appetite increase, but their nutritional needs will change slightly as they need more nutrition to create nutritious eggs. Young pullets should be switched from a starter/grower chicken feed to a layer feed around 18-20 weeks of age or whenever you get the first egg.
The change in feed should be done gradually to ensure that no digest upset occurs from a slight change in diet. I usually do a gradual feed switch over the course of a week for my young birds.
You will also want to make sure the new layers have access to a free-choice calcium supplement. Supplemental calcium is now needed in the diet for creating strong, healthy eggshells without drawing on other calcium resources in a pullet’s body.
#4. Nest Exploration
Pullets who are getting close to laying their first egg may also start scoping out potential nesting areas. Now is the time to nest train the young layers! Sometimes young layers may think that a dark corner of the chicken coop or enclosure is a great place to lay instead of in the nesting boxes.
To encourage young layers to lay their eggs in the nesting boxes, place dummy eggs in the boxes. Hens like to lay their eggs in clutches (an instinctual reproductive habit) and will often lay their eggs where other hens have also laid. Fake eggs or even golf balls can be used as dummy eggs in the nest boxes.
Keeping the nesting boxes dark and private will also entice young layers. Hens will instinctively look for dark, protected places to their eggs. Using nesting box curtains on the nests can help make the nests dark and private.
#5. Noisy!
Lastly, you may also notice that young pullets start getting more noisy as they get closer to laying their first egg. Hens can be quite loud before and after laying an egg. A hen will often vocalize an ‘egg song’ after laying her egg. However, pullets and hens will make a variety of loud noises as they search out a good nesting spot prior to laying their egg and then announce to the world after they laid their egg!
5 Factors that Affect When a Pullet Starts Laying
While the general age for when young pullets start laying is around 20-22 weeks of age, there are several factors that can cause a pullet to start laying sooner or later than expected. Keep in mind that not all of your pullets will start laying at the same exact time. Here are some factors to consider that would affect when a pullet starts laying:
#1. Light
Hens need between 12-16 hours of daylight each day in order for them to lay. The daylight hours are sensed by the pituitary gland near the hen’s comb, which then triggers the correct hormones to start the egg laying process. Younger hens can keep laying with fewer daylight hours than older hens. Shorter daylight hours is one reason why hens will stop laying during the winter months.
However, young pullets who start laying in the late summer or fall will sometimes keep laying through the winter months even without supplemental light in the coop. Since they did not take a break during the fall for molting season, they are just kicking into production gear and won’t be as dependent on receiving at least 12 hours of light per day.
With that being said, pullets who were hatched during the summer months may not mature in time to start laying before shorter daylight hours start in the fall and winter. In which case, the pullets will usually wait until spring to start laying.
If you want your late maturing pullets to start laying during the winter, you will have provide supplemental light to help them get at least 12 hours of light per day. However, don’t start providing supplemental light until the pullets are old enough to lay (20-24 weeks of age). Providing supplemental light too early may cause the pullets to lay sooner than normal. When pullets start laying before they are ready, health issues such as egg binding and reproductive injuries can happen.
#2. Weather
Even if your pullets are laying well into the fall and early winter months, harsh winter weather can put a halt to their productivity. Cold temperatures, wind chill, and exposure can lead to cold stress, which may cause young pullets to stop laying. This is natural as the pullets need to expend energy on staying warm rather than laying eggs.
One factor that often gets confusing when raising young pullets is molting season. Molting season usually occurs late summer and into the fall. The cooler temperatures and waning daylight hours triggers the annual fall molt. However, only chickens who are over 1 year of age will molt annually. Pullets will not go through a molt the fall of the year they are hatched. They will molt the following fall.
So you don’t have to worry about the fall molt halting pullets from laying.
#3. Breed
Like we’ve mentioned previously, every chicken breed, and even strains within certain breeds, may reach reproductive maturity at different times. Chicken breeds developed for egg production will start laying sooner than dual-purpose chicken breeds. Heritage and landrace breeds will often take longer to mature and reach production age.
In general, heavy chicken breeds take longer to start laying than light chicken breeds. Even within a breed, some birds may start laying sooner than others.
#4. Diet
If pullets are not receiving an adequate, nutritious diet they will not be able to start laying. A nutritional deficiency, stale feed, or imbalanced diet can cause a pullet to not get the proper nutrition for making and laying eggs.
To prevent a dietary problem, switch the pullets over to a complete layer feed when they are 18-20 weeks of age. Layer feed has the proper nutrition and calcium needed by laying hens. You want to avoid making the switch any earlier since young birds don’t need the supplemental calcium and too much calcium at a young age can lead to kidney failure.
However, once the pullets start laying, you should make sure the pullets have access to a free-choice calcium supplement. You should also keep their daily treats and snacks balanced with their layer feed. Too many treats and snacks can take away from the nutrition they should be receiving from their layer feed.
#5. Stress
Lastly, stress can cause young pullets to prolong laying. Heat stress, cold stress, bullying, predator attacks, feed or water withdrawal, or rough handling can all cause stress for chickens. If you are integrating young pullets into an already established laying flock, ideally do so before the pullets start laying. That way the stress of integration doesn’t interfere with the pullets getting ready to start laying.
You can integrate young pullets into a laying flock around 16-18 weeks of age. At this point they should be big enough to fend for themselves in the adult flock and it is safe for them to start eating the same layer feed as the laying flock.
If you are raising your first homestead flock, it may seem like a long wait before you get that first egg! Watch for the early signs of pullets reaching reproductive age, like submissive squats or brighter combs and wattles. Once you do get that first egg, be ready to start using fresh eggs from your homestead flock in all your homestead cooking and baking projects! And with good care and egg management, you may not have to buy eggs again!
Have more questions about raising a homestead flock? Make sure you join our modern pioneer newsletter community, get your FREE copy of Raising Chickens Like a Pioneer, and feel free to jot us a note with any questions you have!
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