I know this is such a beginner question but I have to ask...how long do hens lay eggs? I know from all of your wonderful postings that they should start basically any time after 17 to 18 weeks, but once they do, how long are they able to produce?
Depends on the breed or I should say type. A layer will lay a lot eggs for a shorter amount of time, approx. 2-3 yrs. A dual purpose will lay less frequently but for more years about 4-5. Of course there will be those exceptions but that is a general rule. What do you have?
I get up to 3 eggs a day from my four 6 year old hens. My hen had a hen that lived to be 15 years old and it still occasionally laid eggs, about a dozen a year at that age.
I was talking with a woman on my bus today & discovered she, too, is a chicken owner. She told me that her 2 hens (Buff Orp & Leghorn) are laying really well right now. I asked how old they are, expecting to hear "a year" and turns out they're more like 4-5 years old! Glad to hear that the investment pays off. My babies are just 3.5 weeks old and won't lay until this fall.
someone posted a link to this site in another thread a few days ago and i enjoyed it. i think it can only be used as a general guide, but it's interesting nonetheless.
