When will my chickens start laying?
Pick the breed, enter the hatch date, and get the window your pullets should lay their first egg — plus what to expect from year two onward, when the brochure numbers stop applying. Runs in your browser; nothing is saved or sent.
The first egg is the moment everyone photographs and nobody writes down. EggBasket dates it, keeps it, and starts the record from there.
Get notified at launchPoint of lay by breed
"Point of lay" is the age a pullet is mature enough to start. Hybrids bred for production start earliest; heavy heritage breeds and ornamentals take months longer. Pullets that reach point of lay in late autumn often wait until daylight lengthens in spring.
| Breed | First egg | Eggs, first laying year | Egg colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA Brown / Golden Comet | 16–18 weeks | ~310 | Brown |
| White Leghorn | 17–19 weeks | ~300 | White |
| Rhode Island Red | 18–20 weeks | ~275 | Brown |
| Australorp | 20–22 weeks | ~250 | Light brown |
| Speckled Sussex | 20–22 weeks | ~240 | Cream |
| Plymouth Rock (Barred) | 20–22 weeks | ~225 | Brown |
| Easter Egger | 20–24 weeks | ~225 | Blue or green |
| Wyandotte | 20–24 weeks | ~200 | Light brown |
| Buff Orpington | 22–26 weeks | ~190 | Light brown |
| Marans | 24–28 weeks | ~175 | Dark chocolate |
| Jersey Giant | 26–32 weeks | ~175 | Brown |
| Brahma | 26–32 weeks | ~150 | Light brown |
| Silkie | 28–32 weeks | ~110 | Cream / tinted |
Egg production by hen age
A hen's first laying year is her best. After that, production falls by roughly ten to fifteen percent a year — but the eggs get larger, so weight of egg per year drops more slowly than the count suggests.
| Age | Stage | Share of peak | Eggs per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 weeks | Chick, in the brooder | — | 0 |
| 6–16 weeks | Pullet, on grower feed | — | 0 |
| 16–26 weeks | Point of lay; small pullet eggs, sometimes shell-less | Ramping up | First eggs |
| Year 1 | Peak production | 100% | ~275 |
| Year 2 | First adult moult, then strong | ~80% | ~220 |
| Year 3 | Noticeably slower, bigger eggs | ~70% | ~190 |
| Year 4 | Occasional layer | ~60% | ~165 |
| Year 5+ | Retired or nearly; hens live 6–10 years | ~50% and falling | ~140 |
A worked example
A Buff Orpington pullet hatched on 15 April 2026. Orpingtons are a heavy heritage breed with a point of lay of 22 to 26 weeks.
- Earliest: 22 weeks × 7 = 154 days after hatching, which is Sep 16, 2026.
- Latest in the normal window: 26 weeks × 7 = 182 days, which is Oct 14, 2026.
- Expect roughly 190 eggs across her first laying year, then about 150 in year two.
- Because that window falls in autumn, if she is late she may hold off entirely until daylight lengthens in February or March. That is normal and not a health problem.
Two physical signs beat any calendar: the comb and wattles turn from pale pink to a deep red, and the hen performs the "squat" — crouching with wings slightly out when you reach toward her. Both usually appear one to two weeks before the first egg.
First egg questions, answered
At what age do chickens start laying eggs?
Most hens lay their first egg between 18 and 24 weeks old, roughly four to six months. Production hybrids such as ISA Browns and Leghorns can start at 16 to 18 weeks. Heavy heritage breeds like Orpingtons, Brahmas and Jersey Giants often take 26 to 32 weeks.
How do I know when my chicken is about to lay?
Watch for three signs. The comb and wattles deepen from pale pink to bright red. The hen "squats" — crouching low with wings out when you reach for her. And she starts inspecting nest boxes, scratching the bedding and settling in. The first egg usually follows within one to two weeks.
Why are my pullets not laying yet?
The four usual causes are age, daylight, breed and stress. Pullets need about fourteen hours of light a day to start, so autumn birds often wait for spring. Heritage breeds mature late. A recent move, a predator scare or a change of feed will also delay the first egg by weeks.
What are pullet eggs?
Pullet eggs are the small first eggs a young hen lays, often half the size of what she will produce later. Some have thin shells, wrinkled shells, or no shell at all, and some have no yolk. This is normal while her reproductive system calibrates and it settles within four to six weeks.
How many years do chickens lay eggs?
Hens lay most heavily in their first year and continue for five to seven years at a falling rate — roughly 80% of peak in year two, 70% in year three, and about half by year five. They commonly live six to ten years, so a laying flock spends part of its life in retirement.
The first egg is worth dating properly
Everyone remembers roughly when their pullets started. Almost nobody remembers which hen, or how long the gap was to the next one. EggBasket keeps that record from day one, on your phone, without an account. See how EggBasket works.