As a chicken owner, one of the best benefits is having a steady supply of fresh eggs. But if you’re new to raising chickens, you may be wondering just how many eggs you can expect from your flock each week The number of eggs a hen lays depends on several factors, including breed, age, season, diet and environment By understanding what impacts your chickens’ egg production, you can better estimate their weekly output.
The Egg Laying Process
Before looking at weekly egg totals, it helps to understand the fascinating 24-hour process of egg formation within a hen:
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It starts when the hen ovulates and a yolk is released into the reproductive tract.
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Strands of egg white, or albumen, then wrap around the yolk to cushion it.
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Another membrane surrounds the egg contents to form the inner shell.
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Over the next 20 hours, the shell forms as calcium is deposited around the egg. A healthy diet provides the calcium a hen needs for sturdy shells.
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The egg then moves into the cloaca and is laid through the vent. A hen’s body is designed to pass eggs smoothly and without much discomfort.
It takes 24-26 hours to produce an egg, which is why hens rarely lay more than one egg per day. Understanding this cycle is key to having realistic expectations of what your flock can deliver each week.
Factors That Impact Weekly Egg Production
On average, chickens lay between 3-7 eggs per week. However, many elements influence their actual output:
1. Breed
Some breeds are bred specifically for high egg production, while others may be better known for meat or ornamental qualities. Laying breeds like Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns and hybrid strains can produce 5 or more eggs per week. Ornamental breeds like Silkies and Bantams lay fewer eggs, around 2-3 per week. Before getting chickens, research the egg laying qualities of specific breeds.
2. Age
Pullets typically start laying around 18-24 weeks old. Don’t expect a lot of eggs at first as they establish a regular cycle. Peak production occurs during the first 2 years, then slowly declines as chickens age. A good layer may produce 200-300 eggs the first year, but only 100 or less by year 5. The older your flock, the fewer eggs you’ll get.
3. Day Length
Chickens rely on daylight to stimulate egg production. At least 14 hours of light per day is needed for consistent laying year-round. This isn’t hard to achieve in summer, but as days shorten in fall and winter, egg output decreases or even stops. Providing supplemental lighting simulates longer days to sustain egg production.
4. Molting
Molting is the annual shedding and regrowing of feathers. This occurs in late fall and early winter and typically causes a pause in egg laying that can last weeks or months. It allows the hen’s body to rest and replenish nutrients. Understand that molting is normal and eggs will resume afterwards.
5. Diet
Laying hens need quality feed and access to calcium at all times. Deficiencies in protein, fat, calcium or overall nutrition will quickly impact egg production. Provide a complete layer feed formulated for the nutritional needs of active, egg-laying chickens.
6. Health Issues
Sickness, parasites, injuries and other health problems lead to decreased egg production. Chickens who feel unwell won’t lay as many eggs. Good coop sanitation and flock health management prevents many issues that can impact laying.
7. Season and Weather
Egg production naturally wanes in late fall and winter due to decreasing daylight hours and cold weather. Extreme heat can also depress summer egg output. Understand that seasonal drops in egg quantity are normal for chickens reliant on natural light and weather cycles.
8. Predators and Stress
Chickens who live with daily stress from predators, pests, overcrowding, aggression from flockmates or other threats will lay fewer eggs. Minimizing stress helps maintain normal egg production.
As you can see, many elements influence the number of eggs a hen will lay. While averages provide a guideline, your flock’s production ultimately depends on your particular chickens and how you care for them.
What to Expect from Different Breeds
Here are typical weekly egg yields from common chicken breeds:
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4 or more eggs per week: Plymouth Rock, Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Ameraucana, Leghorn, sex link hybrids
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3-4 eggs per week: Wyandotte, Australorp, Ancona, Marans
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2-3 eggs per week: Cochin, Brahma, Sussex, Polish, Japanese Bantam
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1-2 eggs per week: Silkie, Belgian d’Uccle, Sizzle
Again, these are general breed standards. Actual performance varies based on age, health and other factors. Some individual hens consistently lay above or below expectations. Monitor your own flock’s output to see what’s normal for your chickens.
Estimating Your Flock’s Needs
Figuring out an ideal flock size involves estimating both your egg needs and your chickens’ likely production. Follow these steps:
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Determine your weekly household egg usage. Track current consumption for a few weeks and average it.
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Estimate expected production per hen. For active laying breeds, 200-300 eggs annually is a reasonable estimate.
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Do the math: Take your estimated weekly egg needs and divide by expected annual production per hen. This tells you roughly how many chickens you need.
For example, if your household uses 24 eggs per week and your hens average 200 eggs annually, 24 eggs/week divided by 200 eggs/year equals 0.12 hens. Round up to at least 1 hen. For a flock, you’d need about 12 hens to produce 24 eggs weekly (24/200 = 0.12 x 12 = 14 hens).
Remember this is just a guideline – monitor your actual flock’s output and adjust your estimates as needed. But it provides a starting point for planning your flock size.
Egg Production Changes Over Time
While the above estimates reflect peak production, expect egg quantities to change over time:
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Pullet phase (18-24 weeks): Sporadic lay with occasional “practice” eggs as pullets start cycling.
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Early lay (6-12 months): Peak production period with maximum weekly/annual eggs.
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Prime lay (1-2 years): Excellent production slightly below early lay.
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Mature lay (2-5 years): Gradual decline each year as hens age.
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Senior lay (5+ years): Low production with egg-free periods.
Adjust expectations as your flock progresses through these phases. Growth, molting, aging and other factors will influence egg totals week-to-week and year-to-year.
Tips for Maximizing Weekly Egg Production
To help your chickens achieve their full laying potential:
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Select active, egg-laying breeds. Avoid primarily ornamental breeds if eggs are a priority.
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Provide at least 14 hours of light daily using artificial lighting in fall/winter.
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Feed a complete layer feed with 16-18% protein and calcium supplementation.
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Ensure hens always have access to clean water.
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Discourage broodiness and limit it to 3-4 weeks for heavy-laying breeds.
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Manage molting properly by reducing light hours and increasing protein.
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Remove non-productive hens after 2-3 years of lay to maintain flock efficiency.
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Prevent common health issues with good sanitation and care.
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Minimize stress by giving hens room, roosts, nest boxes and places to hide.
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Collect eggs frequently so hens don’t go broody from a full nest.
By choosing productive breeds and following best practices for care, housing, feeding and lighting, you can maximize the number of eggs your chickens lay each week within their natural capabilities. Record keeping helps track hen productivity over time so you can make appropriate flock management decisions. Enjoy the fresh egg bounty that a well-managed flock can provide!
Popular backyard chicken breeds
A wide variety of chicken breeds have been developed for egg and meat production. While many breeds are adaptable to a backyard setting, certain breeds are better than others for backyard conditions.
- Medium to large breeds are good for cold winters.
- Look for breeds with mellow temperaments and good egg-laying.
- Bantam birds are a smaller version of any particular breed.
- Hens weigh about 6.5 pounds
- Lay brown eggs
- Dark red feathers
- It is a dual-purpose breed most often used for laying
- Hardy breed that does well in small flocks
- Hens weigh about 6.5 pounds
- Lay brown eggs
- Dual-purpose breed
- Great for small flocks and rugged conditions
- Curvy shape, good disposition
- Many color varieties
- Many different color varieties
- Lay green eggs
- Great long-term egg production
- Dual-purpose breed
- Tolerant to all climates
- Easy to handle
- Hens weigh about 8 pounds
- A larger dual-purpose breed
- Lay brown eggs
- Many color varieties
- Heavy size is ideal for cold weather
Quality feed and clean water will help keep birds healthy and productive
- Chickens are omnivores. They eat grains, fruits, vegetables and insects.
- Chickens should be fed a prepared feed that is balanced for vitamins, minerals and protein.
- A laying hen diet should also contain crushed oyster shell for egg production and grit for digestion.
- A 6-pound hen will eat roughly 3 pounds of feed each week.
They love fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen and garden, as well as bread. Scratch-cracked corn and oats are a nice treat for the chickens that does not supply all their nutritional needs but is fine in moderation.
Feed consumption may increase in the winter when they burn more calories, and it may decrease in the heat of the summer.
A critical part of a chicken’s diet is continual access to clean, fresh water. This is especially true in the summer as they cool themselves by panting.
A quality coop is essential to backyard chicken production. Coops must provide protection from the weather and predators.
Layers need nest boxes, one per 4 to 5 birds. Chickens are descended from jungle birds, which means they like to be up high, so a place for them to roost is important.
There should be a well-insulated area with a light bulb or heat lamp for the winter months and ventilation for fresh air. Be sure to have a minimum of 3 to 5 square feet of indoor space per bird.
There is an endless variety of coop designs with just as much range in cost. Find a design that provides easy access and otherwise suits your situation.
Their main predators are raccoons, rats, owls, hawks and cats. An enclosed space for chickens to stay at night is essential to their protection. Ensure that the coop is free of small holes that predators could sneak through. The space should be free of unnecessary objects like woodpiles or equipment, as they attract predators.
- Feed chickens and change their water daily.
- To protect them from predators, let them out of the coop each morning and put them back in at dusk each night.
- Pick up eggs twice a day.
- Clean the coop and pen weekly to maintain sanitation and odor control.
Healthy birds are active and alert, with bright eyes. They move around — pecking, scratching and dusting — except on hot days when they rest in the shade. Chickens that are healthy and active also talk and sing quietly throughout the day.
As each chicken is different in its laying and eating habits, monitor each chicken to get a feel for her normal production and consumption. Healthy droppings will be firm and grayish brown, with white urine salts. Roughly every tenth dropping is somewhat foamy, smellier than usual, and light brown.
Chickens raised in backyard settings generally stay healthy and are not as susceptible to diseases. The easiest way to find disease in chickens is to know what a healthy bird looks like. When a chicken isn’t acting normal—for instance, if she doesn’t run to the food as usual or she wheezes or sneezes—start investigating.
HOW MANY EGGS WILL YOUR CHICKEN LAY?
FAQ
How many eggs will 10 chickens lay a week?
Is it cheaper to raise chickens or buy eggs?
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 food makes chickens lay more eggs?
Alfalfa is not only known to help with fertility, it is also know to increase egg production and help maintain good yoke color. Foraging various types of grasses also gives your chickens enrichment during the cold winter months.
How many eggs a chicken lays a day?
The number of eggs a chicken lays per day depends on several factors. The breed, age, and health of the chicken all play a role in egg production. Healthy chickens of laying breeds can lay up to five eggs per week, with some breeds capable of laying up to seven eggs per week. On average, a chicken will lay one egg per day.
How often do hens lay eggs?
Consistency in terms of laying eggs is a manifestation that of a strong and joyful hen. As the hen reaches 18 weeks, it is ready to lay eggs, and during this prime period, they lay eggs almost every day. Mostly, they start laying 250 eggs annually that is equivalent to 6-7 eggs per week, especially if it is a high-caliber and well-cared chickens.
Which hen lays the most eggs a week?
In general, Leghorn chickens are known for laying the most eggs, with some hens laying up to six eggs per week. Rhode Island Reds are also prolific egg layers, averaging around four to five eggs per week.
How long does it take a chicken to lay an egg?
Some chicken breeds in their prime can produce an egg every day because they can produce a new egg in 22 hours. A chicken can take one to two hours to lay an egg. Therefore, in under 24 hours, it can complete the whole egg production cycle. However, most chickens take 24-26 hours to produce a new egg after laying an egg.
Why do chickens lay so many eggs a day?
Here’s a table categorizing common chicken breeds based on their egg production levels: Egg production naturally fluctuates due to seasonal and environmental factors: Hens lay the most eggs when daylight exceeds 12-14 hours per day. Warmer temperatures and access to fresh food (like insects and greens) boost egg production.
How many eggs can a hen produce a week?
A hen will produce 5 to 7 eggs a week as long as she has enough light. However, as discussed above, you need to factor in that hens will skip a day every so often. Therefore, if you want to be almost guaranteed of a dozen eggs per week, we’d suggest at least three hens or, depending on the breed, up to five hens.