When do hens start to lay ???

[seemaale]

I would like to know when your hens start laying eggs ? My sisters chickens are four months old and they lay eggs, and so i was just wondering.

 

[Monkeybean415]

Between 4-6 months is normal. I think my recent group started around 5 months

 

[junebuggena]

Depending on the breed, most start at about 20 to 25 weeks. It's not uncommon for sexlinks, Production Reds, and Leghorns to start at about 4 months.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve had some that started laying at 16 weeks, some at 9 months. Each is an individual and even full sisters can vary quite a bit.

Some of the things that enter into it other than just them being individuals are breed, strain, diet, time of year, lighting regime, and climate. I’m sure there are other factors.

If yours are standard dual purpose breeds from a major hatchery 5 to 6 months is a pretty good guess, but some of the more decorative breeds might take a lot longer. Or then, maybe not. And you need enough for the averages to mean something. No one can say for sure about any of them.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I’ve had some that started laying at 16 weeks, some at 9 months. Each is an individual and even full sisters can vary quite a bit.

Some of the things that enter into it other than just them being individuals are breed, strain, diet, time of year, lighting regime, and climate. I’m sure there are other factors.

If yours are standard dual purpose breeds from a major hatchery 5 to 6 months is a pretty good guess, but some of the more decorative breeds might take a lot longer. Or then, maybe not. And you need enough for the averages to mean something. No one can say for sure about any of them.

X 2

 

[ConPollos]

One of my Golden Comets started at 14 weeks, the rest a week or two later.

 

[kmw1101]

Yup. 4-6 months. Mine were born in late August and started laying in January. Despite the cold weather they laid eggs daily. Now our newer hens are 4 months old but I do think the extreme heat we are having will prevent them from laying since even my older hens aren't laying right now.