Age when hens stopped laying?

[DaisyGirl74]

Hi, all! I was wondering what age your hens stopped laying. I have a small, backyard bantam flock with an Easter egger, barred Plymouth Rock, and a welsummer. I have had the girls since they were day old chicks and they are now 5. I had more chickens but they are the last 3 survivors.

Lilac, the Easter egger and Sugar, the barred rock, still lay every other day and they started laying the end of March. I’m in New England but it’s been a pretty mild winter. I don’t use lights. Anyways, Fire, the welsummer, still hadn’t layed any eggs yet which seems odd. She layed consistently last year. Wondering if she might be done laying? I’ve never had my chickens this long so I am not sure when they normally stop. They are my pets so I will have them until they pass. Just curious when they tend to stop laying. Thank you!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Your hens are older than many, and still producing eggs too. That's very good! Some are finished at one or two years of age, many are dying at three or four years, if not younger, and a few live to be very old.
My oldest hens have been ten years old.
Some breeds, and some family lines, are noted for being long lived, but most really aren't.
Nearly nobody selects for longevity in breeding, so most chicks are produced by birds only one or maybe two years of age. That's not helpful!
Mary

 

[DaisyGirl74]

Welcome!
Your hens are older than many, and still producing eggs too. That's very good! Some are finished at one or two years of age, many are dying at three or four years, if not younger, and a few live to be very old.
My oldest hens have been ten years old.
Some breeds, and some family lines, are noted for being long lived, but most really aren't.
Nearly nobody selects for longevity in breeding, so most chicks are produced by birds only one or maybe two years of age. That's not helpful!
Mary

Thank you very much for the information! I appreciate you taking the time to respond!

 

[rosemarythyme]

There's not really a magic number. One of my older hens (now 4 yrs) stopped laying last spring/summer and has never resumed. I didn't like her eggs anyhow (routinely had meat and blood spots) so doesn't bother me that she no longer lays.

 

[DaisyGirl74]

There's not really a magic number. One of my older hens (now 4 yrs) stopped laying last spring/summer and has never resumed. I didn't like her eggs anyhow (routinely had meat and blood spots) so doesn't bother me that she no longer lays.

Ok, thank you for sharing!

 

[playthebest]

Hi, all! I was wondering what age your hens stopped laying. I have a small, backyard bantam flock with an Easter egger, barred Plymouth Rock, and a welsummer. I have had the girls since they were day old chicks and they are now 5. I had more chickens but they are the last 3 survivors.

Lilac, the Easter egger and Sugar, the barred rock, still lay every other day and they started laying the end of March. I’m in New England but it’s been a pretty mild winter. I don’t use lights. Anyways, Fire, the welsummer, still hadn’t layed any eggs yet which seems odd. She layed consistently last year. Wondering if she might be done laying? I’ve never had my chickens this long so I am not sure when they normally stop. They are my pets so I will have them until they pass. Just curious when they tend to stop laying. Thank you!

My oldest three are all four years old this year and they still lay eggs every 1-2 days or so. They are my first and oldest, so my only experience. One Barred Rock and two Rhode Island Reds. When I check their nest box I usually find two eggs.

 

[pozees2]

We have a Cochin hen 8 years old and still laying 3-4 times per week.