Chickens are amazing egg-laying machines. A single hen can produce hundreds of eggs over her lifetime. But just how many eggs can chickens lay? The number depends on several factors. In this article, we’ll explore how many eggs chickens lay and what impacts their egg production.
Typical Egg Production
On average, chickens will lay 1 egg per day once they reach 20 weeks old. This continues until they are about 2-3 years old So in their first year of laying eggs, a hen will produce around 260 eggs After that, egg production slowly declines each year.
The total number of eggs a hen will lay in her lifetime varies between breeds. On average, a hen will produce around 500-600 eggs in her lifetime Some chicken breeds are better layers and can produce closer to 800 eggs. The current record for most eggs laid by a single chicken in her lifetime is a whopping 1,444 eggs!
Factors That Impact Egg Production
Several things influence how many eggs a chicken will lay including
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Breed – Some breeds are genetically better layers, like Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, and Leghorns.
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Diet – Chickens need quality feed with enough protein, calcium, and nutrients. Free-ranging chickens may lay fewer eggs if they don’t get balanced nutrition.
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Light exposure – Chickens lay more eggs with 14-16 hours of daylight. Egg production declines in winter with fewer daylight hours.
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Age – Chickens lay the most eggs their first 2-3 years, then production declines as they age.
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Health issues – Sick chickens or those with parasites will lay fewer eggs.
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Molting – Chickens stop laying eggs for 1-2 months when they molt and grow new feathers.
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Broodiness – A broody hen will stop laying to sit on eggs to hatch them. This pauses egg laying for weeks.
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Stress – Stress from predators, overcrowding, or moving to a new home can temporarily reduce laying.
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Extreme heat or cold – Temperature extremes sometimes cause dips in egg production.
Maximize Egg Production
Here are some tips to help your chickens lay as many eggs as possible:
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Choose productive breeds known for high egg yields.
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Provide a high-quality layer feed with 16-18% protein.
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Give free choice calcium like oyster shell grit.
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Ensure 14 hours of daylight with artificial lighting.
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Discourage broodiness by collecting eggs often.
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Reduce stress and overcrowding in the coop and run.
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Prevent common health issues with vaccination and cleanliness.
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Collect eggs frequently since hens won’t lay if nests are full.
With excellent care, some backyard chickens may lay well over 500 eggs in their lifetime. The average hen will produce 300-400 eggs over 2-4 years of laying. Even after their most productive years, many chickens will continue laying 1-2 eggs per week into old age. With their incredible egg laying abilities, chickens can provide a bountiful supply of fresh eggs for any backyard flock owner.
How to Care for molting chickens
A chicken who is molting is going through a natural hormone cycle when they are typically about 18 months of age. During this time they will layer fewer eggs, or no eggs at all, and will often eat more feed as they are trying to replace and regrow the feathers lost during the molting period. Keep the molting chicken fed a balanced diet, and expect them to eat more. Typically they molt during the colder months, and they have less feathers so they will eat A LOT to make up for this loss.
What can maximize production to get more eggs?
First and foremost, while choosing a high production breed and following the best care considerations noted below, good layers will also produce well when they are cared for! We believe in letting our backyard flock have access to pasture and foraging in a safe way, which means chicken tractors on our farm, as well as feeding a high quality grain mixed specifically for egg layers of at least 18% protein. Foraging, feeding scraps and bugs is only an added supplement to a complete layer feed that’s made for backyard flocks.
Other important things to consider is that a hen’s ability to lay eggs lessens as it ages. The first year, after the 22 week pullet period will be the highest number of eggs the hen lays. A healthy hen will continue to lay about an egg a day, average 250-300 eggs in a year, but even with proper care, the egg count will decline. The end of this post covers what we do with our hens once they have reached the maximum number of months of laying farm fresh eggs.
In our experience, we always choose ISA browns or blacks from a local hatchery and get them as chicks in the fall. This helps get eggs in the winter months, allows them to molt in the warmer season and avoids less spring chores for the busy farmers we are!
How Many Eggs Will a Hen Lay in Her Lifetime?
FAQ
What chickens lay 365 eggs a year?
The Australorp holds the record for the most eggs laid in a year which was around 365 eggs. Chickens tend to lay eggs during the spring/summer when the days are long. Most stop laying eggs when it is winter/fall since the days are shorter.
How many eggs can chicken lay in lifetime?
There’s no definitive estimate for how many eggs a chicken can lay in her lifetime. But given an average commercial hen’s egg production and lifespan, we can estimate that she will likely lay at least 330 eggs before she is slaughtered.
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.
What age do chickens stop laying eggs?