Raising chickens can be an extremely rewarding experience. Watching little chicks grow into laying hens is fascinating. However, many first-time chicken owners are surprised by just how quickly chicks grow and develop. If you want to be prepared and provide your flock with proper care, it’s important to understand the various growth stages chickens go through.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll break down the key phases of chicken development and what you need to know at each stage.
Baby Chicks – The First 6 Weeks
Once chicks have hatched, they enter the baby chick phase which lasts for the first 6 weeks of their life. During this time, they are completely dependent on their mother hen or a brooder for warmth, food, and water. Proper nutrition and temperatures are critical for healthy growth and development.
Week 1
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Covered in soft downy feathers and unable to regulate their own body temperature. They require an external heat source like a brooder lamp
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Begin walking, drinking water, eating chick starter feed, and pecking at the ground.
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Provide chick starter feed and clean water. Monitor the brooder temperature.
Weeks 2-3
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Down feathers begin transitioning to juvenile feathers. They become more active exploring their environment.
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Establish the “pecking order” social hierarchy. Monitor for injuries from pecking.
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Supplement feed with treats like lettuce, sprouts, veggies and fruits.
Weeks 4-6
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Shed downy feathers and grow in juvenile feathers. Better temperature regulation.
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Transition to a “grower” feed. Provide grit or oyster shell for digestion.
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Prepare the coop and slowly introduce chicks to the outdoor environment.
The Pullet Phase – 6 Weeks to 6 Months
The pullet phase starts when chicks reach 6 weeks old. This is a period of rapid growth as they continue developing into mature hens. Some key things to expect:
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Distinctive color patterns and plumage emerges. Combs and wattles become more pronounced.
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Size and weight gain is rapid during this growth spurt. Monitor feed amounts.
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Begin integrating pullets into the existing flock if you have older hens.
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Prepare nest boxes 1-2 months before first eggs are expected.
By month 4-6 pullets will appear nearly fully grown and begin exhibiting signs of the first egg laying like nesting behaviors.
Laying Hens – 6 Months and Beyond
Once pullets reach approximately 6 months old, they will start laying eggs. The specific timing depends on breed, health, season and other factors. But once that first egg arrives, they are considered laying hens!
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Hens usually lay most prolifically in their first 2-3 years. After that, egg production slowly declines as they age.
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Provide at least 14 hours of light per day to stimulate egg production.
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Offer layer feed formulated for hens laying eggs. Provide calcium supplements.
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Collect eggs daily to prevent chickens from eating or breaking them.
From Mature Hens to Retirement
Laying hens are generally considered “mature” once they pass 18 months old. While their egg production decreases over time, mature hens continue laying for 3-5 years on average.
Here’s what to expect as your flock matures:
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Egg laying will peak then slowly decline year over year as hens age.
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More prone to issues like impacted crops, egg binding, and molting. Monitor health closely.
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Production may cease completely around 5-7 years old. Let them live out retirement happily.
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They help teach newcomers the ropes and keep the flock socially stable. Their value goes beyond just eggs.
Understanding this full lifecycle helps chicken keepers provide the right care at each growth stage. With proper nutrition, housing, and flock management you’ll have a healthy homestead flock for years to come. Now let’s explore more on what impacts just how quickly chickens grow.
Factors That Impact Growth Rate
Many elements influence just how rapidly chickens mature. Here are some of the key factors:
Genetics and Chicken Breed
Some breeds grow much faster than others. For example, commercial breeds like the Cornish Cross are bred specifically for rapid growth in just 6-7 weeks. In contrast, heritage breed chickens like Brahmas develop slower over 4-6 months.
Diet and Nutrition
Chicks fed starter feed with at least 20% protein will grow faster and healthier than those underfed. Easy access to feed and clean water is essential.
Temperature and Comfort
Chicks unable to maintain proper warmth will expend energy keeping warm and have stunted development. Avoid extremes.
Health Challenges
Sick chicks will devote resources to fighting illness rather than growing. Prevent and treat health issues promptly. Some common problems include:
- Pasty butt
- Dehydration
- Respiratory infections
- Parasites
Gender
Cockerels tend to gain size and weight faster than pullets initially. But once mature, hens will be heavier set overall.
Space Limitations
Overcrowding causes competition for food, water, and roosting space. They need room to grow.
As you monitor your flock, you’ll get a feel for what’s “normal” versus “slow” growth in your specific situation. Now let’s look at what to expect at various chicken ages.
Chicken Development Week-by-Week
To give you a better idea of a typical growth timeline, here’s an overview of chicken development week-by-week:
Week 1
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Size: 2-3 inches, 1-2 oz weight
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Appearance: Giant fluff balls of downy feathers. Soft peeping sounds.
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Care Tips: Brooder temp 95°F. Chick starter feed. Clean water.
Week 2
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Size: 3-4 inches, 1.5-2 oz weight
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Appearance: Down feathers grow longer. Peeping gets louder.
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Care Tips: Brooder temp 90°F. Increase space as they grow.
Week 3
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Size: 5-6 inches, 3-5 oz weight
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Appearance: Juvenile flight feathers visible. Establish pecking order.
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Care Tips: Brooder temp 85°F. Watch for pasty butt. Add treats.
Week 4
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Size: 6-8 inches, 5-8 oz weight
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Appearance: Juvenile feathers cover body. Comb and wattle development starts.
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Care Tips: Brooder temp 80°F. Transition to grower feed. Add roost.
Week 5
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Size: 8-10 inches, 8-10 oz weight
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Appearance: Feather growth rapid. Appear gangly as body develops.
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Care Tips: Brooder temp 75°F. Plan coop transition. Clip wings if needed.
Week 6
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Size: 9-12 inches, 10-14 oz weight
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Appearance: Mostly fully feathered. Gender differences visible.
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Care Tips: Move to coop. Provide perches and nest boxes.
Week 7 – 3 Months
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Rapid size and weight gain continues. Pullets reach nearly full size.
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Comb and wattles turn red. Tail and hackle feathers fill in.
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Provide layer feed. Integrate with flock. Lock up at night safely.
4 Months Onward
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Size and appearance of full grown chickens though still maturing.
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Hens begin “practicing” egg laying behaviors like nesting.
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Let them free range. Expect first eggs around 6 months old.
Keep in mind that individual chickens may grow faster or slower. These are general guidelines for a typical flock. Track each chick’s development week-to-week.
Monitoring Chicken Weight by Age
One useful way to gauge growth is by measuring weekly weight gain. Here are the average weight ranges to expect by week and month:
- Week 1: 1-3 oz
- Week 2: 1.5-4 oz
- Week 3: 3-6 oz
- Week 4: 5-8 oz
- Week 5: 8-12 oz
- Week 6: 10-14 oz
- 2 months: 1-1.5 lbs
- 3 months: 1.5-2.5 lbs
- 4 months: 3-4 lbs
- 5 months: 3.5-5 lbs
- 6+ months: 4-6 lbs (breed dependent)
Weigh your chicks weekly with a kitchen scale. Compare to these averages. Rapid early weight gains are positive signs of robust health.
Key Takeaways on Chicken Growth Stages
Here are some of the key points we covered on what to expect as chicks develop:
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Chicks grow from 1 ounce fluff balls to 4-6 pound hens in just 21-24 weeks.
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The first 6 weeks are critical for establishing healthy chicks via proper heat, food, water, and care.
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Pullets go through rapid juvenile growth spurts from 6 weeks to 6 months old.
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Monitor for issues like injuries from establishing pecking order.
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The 6 month mark is when pullets transition into laying hens.
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Laying peaks around 2-3 years old then slowly declines as hens age.
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Genetics, diet, health, gender, space, and comfort levels all impact growth rates.
Let us know if you have any other questions as your baby chicks grow. We wish you the very best on your chicken keeping journey!
3 day old chicks
At 3 days old, you can start to see how quickly chickens grow. They are more curious, more mischievous, and werent nearly as scared as prior days. At 3 days old, you can see some chicks starting to develop their primary feathers on their wings. Not all the chicks will develop this quickly, but you can anticipate that the remaining chicks will soon display these premature primary feathers.
4 day old chicks
A 4 day old chicken doesnt look much different than a 3 day old. You can start to see more primary feathers get developed. But aside from that, their personality is still curious, and theyre still predominantly covered in down feathers. And they still stand at about 5″ in height.
How fast do chicks really grow?
FAQ
How fast do chickens grow to full size?
Chickens generally reach their full size by 6-8 months old, but their growth rate varies by breed and purpose. Meat breeds, like Cornish crosses, can reach market weight in just 6-8 weeks, while other breeds may take 10-12 weeks.
What do chickens look like at 6 weeks?
6-week-old chickens should be fully feathered and can tolerate cooler temperatures.
What is the 90/10 rule for chickens?
The “90/10 rule” for chickens refers to a feeding guideline that recommends 90% of a chicken’s daily diet should be a complete feed, while the remaining 10% can be treats.
How long do chickens take to grow to eating size?
Plan their arrival around their departure. Cornish cross broilers (most commonly raised) need only six to eight weeks to reach a market carcass weight of four to six pounds. Other breeds that grow slower may take 10 to 12 weeks.