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When do chickens start laying eggs2007-11-24 17:17:40

How old are they when they start to lay eggs?

Answers:

A pullet (young female) starts laying at about 20-24 weeks old. Her first eggs will be small. A hen will lay about 20 dozen (240) eggs in the first year and probably no more than 1000 in her lifetime. When she is molting (losing feathers for new ones) she will lay little or no eggs. This happens when she is a year old and will happen once a year after that. Also in the winter egg production slows or stops unless you provide them with as much light (with lights and a timer) as they have in the summer. The only other thing that will cause a reduction in egg production is disease or insect infestation. Hopes this info. will help you

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They start laying eggs at six-seven months old.

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1.) When they start ovulating.

2.) When they reach puberty.

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Usually when they are fully grown, they begin to lay eggs. This can be 6-8 months.

Their first egg can occasionally be really small, or have other irregularities about it. I once had a chicken whose first egg was the size of a robin's egg!

Also, hens will lay eggs even if you do not have a rooster. And hens usually stop laying eggs during the winter months.

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about 6 months of age.

some lay a bit before that and the eggs are usually very small at first.

and they lay everyday on the dot for about 2 years

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youshelley wen they are 3

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There is a little more then just age in determining when your chickens will begin laying.Age is part of the equation sunlight being the second part and lastly the breed.I'll give you an example A pullet hatched on march first will generally begin laying in October.Age wise the pullet is near 8 months old.Chickens are photo sensitive much of their behavior is triggered by the amount of daylight hours during the year.Young pullets are triggered to begin laying in the fall as sunlight gets shorter and the days get cooler.A pullet hatched on April first will begin laying at the same time.Most all pullets hatched before mid may will generally begin to lay in October.For pullets hatched by mid June generally begin in November.Anything past June will begin at the age the breed matures.First eggs vary in size from the size of your thumb to full size large eggs.Many small first eggs may only contain a yolk some may only contain the white.They also tend to be unusually thick shelled. Some breeds of chickens like the barred rock can stop producing during the winter,breeds like the rhode islands do not.The molt can affect a bird in such a way that they slow down or stop producing.This all depends on the manor at which they molt.

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Commercial white egg layers will lay their first egg between 15-19 wks of age. These eggs will be very small.

Commercial brown egg layers will lay their first egg around 18-22 wks of age...again small eggs.

These are commercial guidelines. Show breeds differ greatly. And, the ages listed above are accurate only if the birds have received the appropriate light stimulation during their growing period and continue to receive enough light while laying.