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How often do chickens lay eggs? This kind of question is very common to ask if you are a newbie to chickens. As a newbie, there is not only this question that pop-ups into our minds but many more.
But now you don’t need to worry anymore because we are here to help you. Make sure to stick to the end of this article, all your confusion about chickens and eggs will surely fade away.
How Often Do Chickens Lay Eggs?
A healthy chicken can lay about one egg per day and sometimes she may skip a day. But this is just a general answer. Exactly how often a chicken lays eggs depends on a few factors.
Here are some of the most important factors that can greatly affect how often your chicken will lay eggs.
Diet
Feeding your hen a low-quality diet can hugely impact egg production. You must provide a well-balanced diet to your hen which should include important nutrients such as protein, calcium, vitamin D, and sodium. Otherwise, a lack of these nutrients can be the reason for the decline in egg production in your hen.
Chickens require 16% protein for full production.
Sodium is very essential for the reproductive performance of a hen.
Age
At the age of 4 to 5 months, chickens start producing eggs. In the first 8 weeks, you will notice a peak in egg production. It will start declining after the 12 months of egg production.
Illnesses
Illnesses can be a very serious threat to a chicken’s egg production and of course, overall health is also at risk. An unhygienic environment and low quality of food can be some of the biggest reasons that can lead your hen to serious diseases.
Here are some of the most common diseases that are detected in the egg layers.
- Fowl Pox – It is a viral infection in chickens that won’t only affect egg production but the growth of a chicken also. It can be transmitted by mosquitos and other infected chickens. It can lead to a few consequences like sores and scars on the skin. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this disease but can be prevented with help of vaccination.
- Infectious Bronchitis – It is a highly contagious virus in chickens and can cause a decrease in the production and quality of the eggs. The virus can be prevented with the help of disinfectants.
- Coccidiosis – You can consider this disease as a form of diarrhea. It can be severe or mild and can be prevented with the help of vaccination.
Season
Yes, the season is also one of the main factors in egg production in hens.
Summer and spring are the seasons when a hen’s egg production is pretty good. In these seasons, hens are exposed to more lights throughout the day which helps in stimulating the egg’s reproduction cycle, ultimately increasing egg production.
The decline in production occurs in the winter season, which mainly happens due to a shortage of light.
Breed
The breed greatly influences how often do chickens lay eggs. There are lots of breeds that have the ability to lay consistently and are generally known as production hens.
Some hens are quite slow in laying eggs which are known as Heritage hens.
Some hens can be kept as table birds but are also good in egg-laying. This kind of chicken breed is known as dual purpose. And of course, they can’t match production hens in egg-laying but are much better than the heritage hens.
Here I am mentioning names of some of the most famous chicken breeds and how often they lay eggs.
- Hybrid
Hybrid is a breed that doesn’t contain only a single chicken breed. There are lots of different hybrid breeds and the most common is the Golden Comet.
They can lay approximately 5 to 6 eggs each week which is pretty impressive.
Hybrid chickens are generally golden and brown and have sweet white tail feathers. You can easily find them in the market and they are also budget-friendly.
- Silkie
Silkie chicken breed is one of the most popular chicken breeds that definitely deserve to be mentioned here.
They can lay almost 3 to 4 eggs each week.
They have a tiny body and beautiful colors of feathers which can make you fall in love with them.
- Leghorn
Another most famous chicken breed with the ability to lay 5 to 6 eggs each week.
They have a totally white body and a thick red comb which you can easily see in the above picture.
Usually, Leghorns are very vocal, so if you are living in a rural area, this breed is perfect for you.
- Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock chicken breed is a very classic breed and has the ability to quickly adapt to a free-range lifestyle.
They can lay 4 to 5 eggs each week.
They are grey in color and have a white stripe which helps in recognizing them easily.
- Australorp
Australorp chickens are very active and can lay approximately 4 to 5 eggs each week.
They have black feathers which turn green when exposed to sunlight. This may sound very tempting, but this characteristic can cause the chicken to overheat. So make sure to keep your Australorp hen in shade.
- Ameraucana
Ameraucana chicken breed has the ability to lay 4 to 5 eggs each week.
- Rohde Island Red
Rohde Island Red chicken breed is one of the most popular and lovable chickens out there.
They can lay almost 5 to 6 eggs each week.
This chicken breed is very friendly with humans. They can take care of themselves properly and hence are known to be tough.
- Buff Orpingtons
Buff Orpington chicken breed is known to be best as a dual-purpose hen. They have the ability to lay 3 to 4 eggs each week.
They are golden and yellow and their feathers are very thick.
If you have any other pet or children in your house, this chicken breed is perfect for you as they are very gentle and friendly from nature.
- Bantam
Bantam chicken breed can lay 3 to 4 eggs a week.
If you have a small space in your backyard, this breed can be the best pick for you. Two Bantam chickens can easily fit into the space that is required for a standard size of a chicken.
- Cochin
The Cochin chicken breed is one of the most popular breeds. But they are not that good at laying eggs. They can lay only 2 to 3 eggs each week.
They have a huge body along with plenty of beautiful feathers. Their calm and friendly nature makes them a perfect fit for pet lovers.
- Dominique
Dominique chicken breed is known as one of the oldest chicken breeds. They have been kept in the US since the 1800s.
They are medium in size and can lay 4 to 5 eggs each week.
- Wyandotte
Wyandotte chicken breed is big in size and has a beautiful appearance. They can lay 3 to 4 eggs each week.
They are very popular and especially known for being dual-purpose chicken.
How Long Do Chickens Lay Eggs?
Generally speaking, a chicken won’t just stop laying eggs when they have touched a mark of a specific age. But as they get old, the quantity of laying eggs will reduce.
If your chicken has completely stopped laying eggs. It can be because of a few reasons such as diet, season and stress can also be one of the most major factors. So make sure to provide proper care to your lovely chicken.
How Long Does It Take For a Hen To Form and Lay an Egg?
A hen takes 24 to 26 hours to form and lay an egg. After laying an egg, your hen will start the process again in the next 15 to 30 minutes.
How To Help Your Chicken Lay More Eggs?
Yes, you can help your hen in laying more eggs. You just have to make sure to provide proper care to your hen which includes a well-balanced diet, clean water, and eliminating their stress from their life.
Go through this article to know more about how can you help your chicken to lay more eggs.
Related Questions
Can a Chicken Lay 2 Eggs a Day?
Well, yes, a chicken can lay 2 eggs in a day. But it is very uncommon and hardly happens.
How Many Times a Chicken Lays Eggs In a Day?
A hen can lay an egg per day when they are on peak.
But there is a possibility that they may lay no egg in a day at all. And this happens because of the time taken by a hen for forming and laying an egg.
How Many Eggs a Chicken Can Lay In a Year?
Usually, if a hen is well-fed and falls into the high-producing breed, then it can lay approximately 250 eggs in a year. Remember, this is a general figure. The exact numbers varies from breed to breed.
Does a Chicken Need a Rooster To Lay Eggs?
Straight answer, NO. A chicken is fully capable to lay eggs without a rooster.
Is Laying Eggs Can Be Painful For a Chicken?
Laying eggs can be painful for chickens is not proved yet.
But still, this is not applicable for every chicken out there. In some cases, laying eggs can be painful for a chicken. For example, when a hen is younger and the egg is larger, it may cause pain. Because of the pain and discomfort, a hen may make noises. And sometimes bleeding can also take place.
Is There Any Specific Time For Hens To Lay Eggs?
Most hens lay eggs in the morning. But there is not an exact time for chickens to lay eggs. There are a few factors like the exposure to light that influence when a chicken will lay eggs.
One more thing, hens are not going to lay eggs at the night. Because just like us, they used to sleep at that time (who doesn’t love their sleep).
Conclusion
If you provide a well-balanced meal to your chicken and take care of all the important factors, you can undoubtedly expect your hen to lay around 4 to 5 eggs per week. Again, keep in mind that the exact numbers depend on the breed of the hen.
So, that was all about “How often do chickens lay eggs?”. Now I hope that you have got some valuable information here.
Still have doubts? Don’t forget to leave them in the comment section.
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