How many eggs does a chicken lay each week?
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Chickens | 176 comments
“How come there were only four eggs in the basket this morning?'”
Danny asked when he brought in my breakfast tray.
Admittedly I had given John Coe four when he came to mow the lawn this week, but only eight in a week! Danny was concerned, “What are we going to do about our fry ups?”
Danny’s mother kept chickens when he was a child and as a Poultry Instructor, passed on her knowledge. Despite this both of us were a bit naive when it came to keeping chickens ourselves. Just before we collected our chickens three years ago, I bought a pretty little basket in a sale in Newmarket. We planned to buy six hens and I assumed that I’d collect six eggs a day. That basket gathered dust whilst we waited for the first egg.
We bought hens on ‘point of lay’ and threw a party to celebrate their arrival. The guests peered through the gloom at the hens and discussed how to deal with an egg glut. After the party we decided to ask our chicken feed supplier for advice. As we had zero eggs, we must be doing something wrong.
‘Try these,’ he said, producing a box of china eggs with a flourish. ˜The hens will take a peek at them and it will give them the idea.’ I hurried home, opened the nesting box and made plump tempting nests of sweet smelling hay to hold the china eggs.
The chickens seemed happy enough. I observed them having dust baths, sunbathing on the warm roof of their ‘day centre’ and running for a handful of grain in the afternoon. Every day I peeped into the immaculate but egg-free nesting box and trudged back to the house, disappointed. Summer turned to Autumn and then to Winter. ‘Hens go off lay in the Winter, so don’t expect any eggs until the Spring,’ a kind friend advised. I could have hit her.
We were away over New Year and when we got back, there were only five chickens in the pen. I opened the hen house door and there was the sixth hen, absorbed in her task. She barely noticed me as she was clearly straining. I rushed back to the house to tell Danny the breaking news. We crept down to the hen house an hour later and saw our first egg lying resplendent in a clutch of white china fakes.
Tricks and Tips:
- Chickens are at their egg laying prime for the first two years. After this, their egg laying decreases as they get older. Serious egg producers replace their hens after two years.
- Chickens are seasonal layers. When daylight hours are short their laying decreases. Laying gradually builds up from January and starts to decrease from mid September.
- Before you get your first chickens decide whether they are going to be layers or pets, or a mix. If you are going to replace them after a couple of years, don’t give them names. Danny named each of our chickens when they arrived (we got a mix). Need I say more?
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Hi Clairey Cluck
I’d be interested to hear how you get on.
If the flock was divided between 2 houses this may have maintained the status quo. Suddenly you have asked 2 separate factions to live together. Chickens are sensitive creatures. I’d love to hear how it works out.
Thanks for your reply, I live just outside Norwich. Other hen keepers I have spoken to are experiencing the same problem. Most people seem to think it’s to do with the weather!! The hens are light sussex, buff orpintons, Bluebells,Black Rock Cross breed and a speckledy. The hen house is a 10×5′ shed and spotless with a run than is 6x6m. They were all very happy last year in two much smaller hen house’s and I think I will put them back in the run and see what happens. I obtained a larger shed and converted it to accomodate them all. Today I have been to buy some oyster shell as this has been suggested to me
I’ll keep you posted…..CC
Hi Little Blue
Exciting stuff!
Keeping chickens is so worthwhile. As you say, a box of eggs makes a great present.
Thanks for the update.
Hi all, Just to add to my previous message, We now are up to 5 eggs a day which is great!
We were expecting small eggs to start with but they have all been quite big and they taste fantastic.
We have kept a note of the times they appear to know when to expect them, so far 3 lay by breakfast, 1 appears at lunchtime and the final one is anytime from 4pm to 6pm.
Hoping to reach the maximum of 6 in a day soon!
Must add chickens make great pets and are very attached to us.
Only complaint we have is everyone wants eggs so maybe we should get another half dozen chickens to keep the family happy!
Hi Clairey Cluck
Where do you live? We are in the UK and chicken laying is fring on all cylinders here.
Also what breeds of chickens do you have? Are they layers or breeds that are better as broody hens (ie Pekin bantams, Silkies etc.)
Overcrowding can stop hens laying. They need peace and quiet in the nesting box not a queue outside waiting to lay. How many nesting boxes have you got? How big is the hen house and run?
Also spend some time in the run with them. Observe what is going on. Giving the hen house a good spring clean, every inch, will allow you to experience the dynamic of the flock. It could be a problem of worms/lice so spray your chicken house well.
I wouldn’t get another hen just yet. I need answers to the above questions before I can begin to help.
Hi I’ve got a dozen hens all mixed breeds and ages.This includes four youngsters from last year. Problem is no eggs since about Oct/Nov. All are in apparently good health, eat really well, layer pelletts, mixed corn and kitchen scraps.They have great accommodation and run.Is it possible that they are too well cared for? Would getting another point of lay encourage the others to lay?
Hi Little Blue
Sorry, I didn’t spot your comment until this morning.
Lovely hearing about your girls, thanks for sharing!
Hi Jan K
There is a great article on the DEFRA site that gives masses of information about eggs http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/poultry/pdfs/eggqual.pdf
According to this article 2 eggs can be produced on one day (one hard shell and one soft shelled) by the same hen.
Hi
I have recently acquired 3 ex battery hens and I have been getting 2 eggs a day, but the past couple of days I have had 3 good eggs plus 1 egg with a very soft translucent shell! I do give them crushed oyster shell and they free range around the garden.
I originally thought only 2 were laying but after 3 eggs I realised all 3 were laying but is it possible for a hen to lay twice in one day?? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Hi,
Just want to say we’ve had our very first eggs this morning!! had 3 large eggs which were deliciously creamy with golden yolks.
It’s so exciting, we want to shout from the rooftops!
We have 6 gorgeous Warren girls, 21 weeks old. Had them for 7 weeks and spoil them with fresh greens, weeds, cereal, a little bread as well as propriatory organic feed.
Gladys is the comedienne of the group, she larks about on the toy Tractor and tries to boss the others, but Number 6 (always the last out and last in at night!) is really in charge!
Wouldn’t be without them, hope you don’t mind me sharing our news!