Most backyard hens begin laying between 18–24 weeks (about 4.5–6 months) of age. The exact timing depends on the breed, nutrition, and daylight hours. Production breeds like Leghorns may start as early as 16 weeks, while heritage breeds can take 6–7 months. Ensure they have quality layer feed with 16–18% protein and adequate calcium for strong eggshells.

A healthy hen in her prime typically lays one egg every 24–26 hours, which means 5–7 eggs per week during peak production. However, this varies by breed: Leghorns can lay 280+ eggs per year, while Orpingtons may lay 180–200. Factors like daylight, nutrition, stress, molting, and age all affect laying frequency. Most hens experience a natural decline after 2–3 years.

Egg production is heavily influenced by daylight hours. Hens need about 14–16 hours of light to maintain optimal laying. As daylight decreases in fall and winter, their pineal gland signals the reproductive system to slow down or stop. This is a natural resting period. Some keepers use supplemental lighting in the coop (on a timer) to maintain 14+ hours of light, which can help sustain winter production. Without supplemental light, expect production to drop 50–80% or stop entirely during the shortest days.

Egg shell color is determined genetically by the breed. All eggs start out white inside the hen. As the egg passes through the oviduct, pigments may be deposited: protoporphyrin creates brown tones, biliverdin creates blue/green tones, and the combination produces olive shades. White egg layers (like Leghorns) lack pigment genes. A fun trick: look at a hen's earlobe color – hens with white earlobes typically lay white eggs, while red earlobes usually mean brown eggs!

During peak season (spring/summer), a 70–90% laying rate is typical for a healthy backyard flock. This means if you have 10 hens, expect 7–9 eggs daily. In fall, this may drop to 40–60%, and in winter without supplemental light, it can fall to 0–20%. A laying rate consistently below 50% in peak season may indicate nutritional issues, disease, stress, parasites, or aging hens. Use this tracker to monitor trends and spot problems early!

To maximize egg production: (1) Provide 14–16 hours of light daily (natural + supplemental). (2) Feed a quality layer ration with 16–18% protein and 3.5–4% calcium. (3) Ensure fresh, clean water is always available – dehydration quickly stops laying. (4) Keep the coop clean and stress-free; stressed hens produce less. (5) Control parasites like mites and worms. (6) Replace aging hens (over 3–4 years) as their productivity naturally declines. (7) Collect eggs frequently to discourage broodiness.

Molting is the natural process where hens shed old feathers and grow new ones, typically occurring once a year in late summer or fall. During a molt (which lasts 4–16 weeks), hens divert protein and energy to feather production and usually stop laying entirely. This is normal and healthy. After molting, egg production resumes, often with better quality eggs. You can support molting hens with higher-protein feed (18–20%) to speed up the process.