When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs? (Age & Signs)

If you are anything like me, you have been peering into the nest boxes every single morning, waiting for that first little egg. I grew up on my family's organic farm watching my mother do the exact same thing, and four generations later the suspense still hasn't worn off. The good news is that there are real, reliable signposts that tell you when a pullet is getting close — you don't have to guess.

Here is everything I have learned over a lifetime of keeping hens about when chickens start laying, how breed changes the clock, and how to tell your girls are about to deliver.

At what age do chickens start laying eggs?

Most pullets lay their first egg between 18 and 24 weeks old, and about 20–22 weeks is the everyday average for backyard flocks. A "pullet" is just a young female who hasn't laid yet; once she lays, she graduates to "hen."

University of Minnesota Extension notes that producers generally expect flocks to begin laying around 20 weeks of age, with hens often hitting their highest rate of lay around 28–29 weeks. Highly efficient commercial strains can squeak out a first egg as early as 16–17 weeks, but for a mixed backyard flock I tell people to mentally circle the calendar at five to six months and to be patient if it runs longer.

Why the range is so wide

Two birds hatched on the same day can start laying weeks apart. Breed is the biggest factor, but body condition, the season they mature into, and overall health all play a role. A pullet who hit point of lay underweight or stressed will often wait until she catches up.

When does each breed start laying?

Lightweight egg breeds lay earliest (16–20 weeks), dual-purpose breeds fall in the middle (20–24 weeks), and heavy or ornamental breeds lay latest (24 weeks to 9 months). If you want eggs sooner, breed selection is the single biggest lever you can pull — see my rundown of the best egg-laying chicken breeds for the heavy hitters.

Here is a rough point-of-lay guide. Treat these as typical windows, not promises — individual birds vary.

Breed	Typical point of lay	Type
White Leghorn	16–18 weeks	Production layer
Rhode Island Red	18–20 weeks	Production / dual-purpose
Australorp	18–22 weeks	Dual-purpose layer
Sex-link / hybrid (e.g. Golden Comet)	16–20 weeks	Production hybrid
Plymouth Rock	20–22 weeks	Dual-purpose
Wyandotte	20–24 weeks	Dual-purpose
Orpington	22–28 weeks	Heavy dual-purpose
Brahma	24–32 weeks	Heavy / slow-maturing
Silkie	28–40 weeks	Ornamental / bantam

The pattern is consistent across hatchery and extension sources: birds bred for eggs were selected to mature fast, while heritage and ornamental breeds put their energy into body size or fluff first and lay later. If you bought a started pullet at 18–22 weeks, you are buying your way past most of this wait.

What are the signs a pullet is about to lay?

The clearest signs are a bright red, plump comb and wattles, a low "squat" when you reach toward her, and sudden curiosity about the nest boxes. When two or three of these line up, you are usually within a week or two of that first egg.

Watch for these together — any one alone is suggestive, but the cluster is the tell:

• Reddening comb and wattles. They enlarge and turn from pale pink to a deep, waxy red as hormones ramp up. This is the most reliable visual cue.
• The submissive squat. When you walk up or reach over her, she drops low and spreads her wings slightly. It is a mating posture — a sure sign she is sexually mature.
• Nest-box investigating. She starts hopping into the boxes, scratching at the bedding, and arranging it. Some hens do a few "test sits."
• New vocalizations. Many pullets develop the loud, repetitive "egg song" in the days before and after their first egg.
• Bigger appetite and a widening vent. She eats and drinks more, and the gap between her pelvic bones widens to about two fingers as her body prepares.

When I see a flock of girls all squatting and crowding the nest boxes, I make sure clean bedding and a fake egg or golf ball are waiting — it helps them learn where eggs belong.

What do the first eggs look like — and are they normal?

Early eggs are often small, oddly shaped, soft-shelled, or even yolkless, and that is completely normal. A brand-new reproductive tract takes a few weeks to calibrate, so the first eggs rarely look picture-perfect.

You may get a tiny "fairy egg" (also called a wind egg) — a miniature egg, sometimes with no yolk at all. These happen when a bit of tissue triggers the system before a real yolk is ready, and an occasional one at the start of lay is nothing to worry about. The eggs are still safe to eat. Within a few weeks, size and shell quality steady out and your hen settles into her normal egg.

Persistent thin or rubbery shells past those first weeks are a different story and usually point to a calcium or vitamin issue — I cover the causes and fixes in why chickens lay soft-shell eggs. To see how output ramps up after that first egg, my guide on how many eggs chickens lay per day, week, and year lays out what to expect.

Does daylight affect when chickens start laying?

Yes — hens need about 14 hours of light a day to lay consistently, so the season a pullet matures into can speed up or delay her first egg. Laying is triggered through the eye and the bird's hormonal clock, not just by age.

Penn State Extension explains that pullets are deliberately kept on shorter day lengths during rearing so they aren't stimulated to lay too early; light is then increased toward 14–16 hours to bring them into lay. The practical takeaway for backyard keepers:

• A pullet reaching point of lay in spring or summer, with long natural days, usually starts right on schedule.
• A pullet reaching point of lay in late fall, as days shorten, may hold off until spring even if she is the right age.

Some keepers add a few hours of supplemental coop light in winter to keep eggs coming. That is a personal choice — many of us prefer to let young birds follow the natural rhythm for their first season. Either way, the same daylight rules explain the seasonal slowdowns covered in why chickens stop laying eggs.

How do I get my pullets ready to lay?

Get them on the right feed at the right time, give them clean nest boxes, and keep stress low — good prep is the difference between a strong first season and a stalled one. Nutrition is where keepers most often go wrong.

Feed: timing matters

Through the growing stage, pullets should be on a starter/grower (not layer) feed. Switch to a complete layer feed at about 18 weeks of age or when you see the first egg, whichever comes first. Layer rations carry the extra calcium — roughly 3.5–4.5%, and the Merck Veterinary Manual notes laying birds need 3.5–6% — that shells require. Offering crushed oyster shell free-choice on the side lets each hen top up as she needs.

Don't rush layer feed onto birds before they lay: the high calcium can stress the kidneys of a pullet who isn't using it for shells yet. For the full picture of what belongs in the feeder at each stage, see what to feed backyard chickens.

A gentle herbal nudge

Once a pullet is actually laying, some keepers like to support yolk color and steady output with daily herbs. Our Golden Yolk chicken egg booster is a simple herbal lay-support supplement built for exactly that — I want to be honest that it is a supplement on top of a complete layer ration and oyster shell, not a substitute for them, and it won't make an underage or short-on-daylight pullet lay before she is ready. Good feed, good light, and patience do the heavy lifting; herbs are the finishing touch.

Set the stage

Provide one nest box per three to four hens, line them with clean straw or shavings, and place a fake egg in each to show new layers the idea. Keep boxes dim and tucked away from traffic — hens like privacy to lay.

When should I call a vet?

A late first egg is rarely an emergency, but a hen who is clearly straining to pass an egg needs prompt help. Most delays around point of lay are normal variation in breed, daylight, and body condition — not illness.

Contact an avian or livestock veterinarian if you see:

• Egg binding signs — a hen straining, walking penguin-style, sitting fluffed and lethargic, with a swollen abdomen and no egg passing. This can become life-threatening within hours.
• A pullet well past the expected age for her breed who also looks pale, thin, or unwell — that points to a health problem rather than simple late maturity.
• Repeated soft or shell-less eggs paired with lethargy, which can signal a calcium or reproductive issue beyond normal early wobbles.
• Any blood, prolapsed tissue at the vent, or obvious pain.

I am a lifelong chicken keeper, not a veterinarian, so treat this as general guidance. When a bird is in distress, a professional who can examine her is always worth the call.

Frequently asked questions

At what age do chickens start laying eggs?

Most pullets lay their first egg between 18 and 24 weeks of age, with roughly 20–22 weeks being typical for backyard breeds. Lighter production breeds can start as early as 16–18 weeks, while heavy heritage breeds may not begin until 24–28 weeks or later.

What are the signs a hen is about to start laying?

The comb and wattles turn bright red and look plump and waxy, the pullet starts squatting low with wings out when you reach toward her, and she begins investigating the nest boxes. You may also hear new vocalizations and see her eating more.

Why is my chicken's first egg so small?

Small, oddly shaped, or even yolkless 'fairy' eggs are completely normal at the start. The reproductive tract is still calibrating, so the first eggs are often tiny. Egg size and shell quality improve steadily over the first several weeks of lay.

Do chickens need a rooster to lay eggs?

No. Hens lay eggs on their own schedule whether or not a rooster is present. A rooster is only needed if you want fertile eggs that can hatch into chicks.

What month do chickens usually start laying?

It depends on hatch date and daylight more than the calendar. A spring chick typically comes into lay in late summer or early fall. Birds reaching point of lay as days shorten in fall may wait until spring, because hens need about 14 hours of light to lay steadily.

When should I switch my pullets to layer feed?

Switch to a complete layer feed around 18 weeks of age or when you see the first egg, whichever comes first. Layer feed supplies the extra calcium (roughly 3.5–4.5%) needed for shells. Feeding it too early, before lay, can stress a pullet's kidneys.

How much daylight do chickens need to lay eggs?

Hens generally need about 14 hours of light per day to lay consistently. As natural daylight drops below that in fall and winter, laying often slows or pauses unless you add supplemental light.

Why have my pullets not started laying yet?

The most common reasons are simply age and breed — heritage birds take longer — followed by short fall daylight, stress, poor nutrition, or an underweight bird. If hens that have laid before suddenly stop, see our guide on why chickens stop laying eggs.

Is it safe to eat the first eggs a pullet lays?

Yes. The first small or strangely shaped eggs are perfectly safe to eat. There is nothing wrong with the egg itself — the size and shape simply reflect a reproductive system that is still getting up to speed.

A note from Sarah: I'm a lifelong keeper, not a veterinarian. This guide shares what's worked for my own flock and is meant for general education — if a bird is seriously ill or injured, please call your vet. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.