How Long Does It Take For A Chicken To Lay Its First Egg? The Ultimate Timeline Guide

Are you eagerly waiting for your backyard chickens to start producing those farm-fresh eggs? I totally get it! When I first started raising chickens, I checked those nesting boxes every single morning with high hopes. But when weeks passed with no eggs in sight, I started wondering if something was wrong with my hens.

The good news is that patience is key. Most chickens take around 18-24 weeks before they lay their first egg, but several factors can influence this timeline. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about when your pullets (young hens) will start laying those delicious eggs.

The Basic Timeline: From Chick to First Egg

If you’re wondering when exactly your chicken will start laying here’s a general timeline to follow

• 16-20 weeks: Some early-maturing breeds may begin laying their first eggs
• 18-24 weeks (4-6 months): Most common backyard chicken breeds start laying in this timeframe
• 20-28 weeks: Larger or ornamental breeds typically start laying later
• First 60 days of laying: Expect small eggs and inconsistent production
• 30 weeks: Hens typically reach their peak egg production

As Meyer Hatchery’s blog points out, “Much like humans, chickens develop at their own unique pace.” Some of my pullets started laying right at 18 weeks, while others from the same batch took until 24 weeks. That’s completely normal!

Factors That Affect When Hens Start Laying

1. Breed Differences

The breed of your chicken has a significant impact on when she’ll start laying eggs. Here are some examples:

Early Maturing Breeds (16-20 weeks)

• Leghorns (all varieties)
• Golden Buffs
• Austra Whites
• Black Australorps
• New Hampshire Reds
• Plymouth Rocks

Later Maturing Breeds (24+ weeks):

• Brahmas
• Cochins
• Polish
• Silkies

I’ve noticed my Leghorns consistently start laying earlier than my Brahmas sometimes by as much as 6-8 weeks!

2. Season and Daylight Hours

Chickens need approximately 14-16 hours of light per day to stimulate egg production. This is why many hens naturally lay more eggs in spring and summer when days are longer.

If your chicks hatch in the spring (March-May), they’ll likely start laying around August-October. But if they hatch in summer (June-August), you might not see eggs until the following spring because the decreasing daylight hours in fall and winter can delay egg production.

One chicken keeper shared this experience: “My Rhode Island Reds began laying at about 20 weeks. They were spring chicks so we got our first eggs in August.”

3. Nutrition and Diet

Proper nutrition is crucial for pullets to develop into egg-laying hens. Around 16-18 weeks of age, you should transition your chickens from starter/grower feed to a quality layer feed with:

• At least 16% protein
• Higher calcium content for eggshell formation
• Balanced vitamins and minerals

Following the “90-10 rule” is helpful: 90% of a hen’s diet should be high-quality layer feed, and the remaining 10% can be treats like scratch grains, vegetables, and insects.

4. Health and Environment

Healthy chickens lay eggs more consistently. Issues that can delay egg production include:

• Parasites (internal or external)
• Illness or disease
• Poor living conditions
• Overcrowding
• Excessive stress

We want our chickens to be comfortable and secure in their environment to encourage egg laying.

5. Individual Variation

Just like people, chickens have their own unique personalities and development rates. I’ve had two chickens of the same breed, hatched on the same day, and one started laying two weeks before the other!

As Bradley’s Fine Diner’s article states, “No two chickens are exactly alike! The age a hen starts laying can vary quite a bit even among flock mates of the same breed.”

Signs Your Hen Is About to Start Laying

How can you tell when your pullet is getting close to laying her first egg? Here are some telltale signs I’ve observed:

1. Comb and wattle development – These become larger and brighter red
2. Squatting behavior – When you approach, she may crouch down (this is a mating position)
3. Increased interest in nesting boxes – She’ll start investigating where she might lay
4. More vocal behavior – Some hens become chattier before laying
5. Wider pelvic bones – If you check, the bones around her vent will spread farther apart

Preparing For Your Hen’s First Egg

When your pullets reach about 16 weeks, it’s time to prepare for potential eggs. Here’s what I do:

1. Set up proper nesting boxes – Provide one box for every 3-4 hens
2. Add comfortable bedding – Clean straw or wood shavings work well
3. Switch to layer feed – This provides the calcium needed for eggshells
4. Offer calcium supplements – Free-choice oyster shell helps with shell strength
5. Ensure adequate lighting – 14-16 hours is ideal for egg production

That First Egg Experience

There’s nothing quite like finding that very first egg! It might look a bit strange – many first eggs are:

• Smaller than normal
• Possibly oddly shaped
• Sometimes missing proper shells or having very thin shells

Don’t worry if your hen’s first few eggs look unusual. As her reproductive system matures, her eggs will become more consistent in size and appearance.

The Egg-Laying Process

Did you know it takes a hen about 24-26 hours to form and lay a single egg? Most of this time (about 20 hours) is spent forming the shell. After laying an egg, a hen’s body begins forming another one about 15-30 minutes later.

This is why hens typically don’t lay at exactly the same time each day. Each egg is laid approximately 2 hours later than the previous day’s egg. Since chickens don’t lay at night, they occasionally skip a day in their laying cycle.

When to Be Concerned

While patience is important, there are times when you might need to investigate further:

• If your hen is over 32 weeks (8 months) old and hasn’t laid a single egg
• If she shows signs of being egg-bound (lethargic, penguin-like walk)
• If egg quality suddenly changes dramatically (very thin shells, strange shapes)

In these cases, it’s worth consulting with a poultry veterinarian.

Long-Term Egg Production

Once your hens start laying, you can expect:

• Peak production in their first year
• Gradually decreasing production each year
• 3-4 years of good egg production in backyard flocks
• Overall lifespan of 6-8 years for most backyard hens

To maintain consistent egg production, many flock owners add new pullets every 2-3 years.

Real Experiences from Chicken Keepers

I love reading about other people’s experiences with their first eggs. One keeper shared, “My first batch of chickens was 15 mixed breeds purchased in late spring. Thanksgiving was approaching with no eggs. I told the hens I was having eggs on Thanksgiving or I was having chicken. A couple days later I had 3 eggs, then 5, then a dozen a day all winter.”

Another said, “My Green Queen purchased as day old chicks started laying at 18 weeks! Definitely worth the wait!”

Final Thoughts

Waiting for your chicken’s first egg requires patience, but the reward is so worth it! Most hens will start laying between 18-24 weeks of age, but remember that breed, season, nutrition, and individual differences all play important roles in this timeline.

When you finally collect that first precious egg, take a moment to celebrate! It’s a significant milestone in your journey as a chicken keeper. And trust me, those homegrown eggs will taste better than anything you’ve ever bought at a store.

Have you experienced your hens’ first eggs yet? How long did it take for your chickens to start laying? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!

A chicken generally takes 5 to 6 months to lay its first egg, but the exact timing varies by breed, age of the chick, and environmental factors like daylight hours and nutrition.

Yes, your chicken’s first egg is perfectly safe to eat. These initial eggs, often called “pullet eggs” or “pee-wee eggs,” are typically smaller and may have different characteristics, such as having a higher yolk-to-white ratio or the occasional double yolk.

The 90/10 rule for chickens states that 90% of a chicken’s diet should come from a balanced, complete poultry feed, while the remaining 10% can be made up of treats, such as garden scraps, fruits, vegetables, or scratch grains. This rule ensures that chickens receive all the essential nutrients they need for growth, health, and egg production without diluting their diet with too many nutritionally empty extras.

Before laying their first egg, chickens will often become more interested in nesting boxes, squat on the ground when approached, and develop a vibrant red comb and wattles. They may also appear more restless, seeking out suitable nesting spots and exploring their surroundings. Some hens might even display unique behaviors like “egg-laying songs” or seek out the company of a rooster.