How Many Eggs Does a Hen Lay?
Chesapeake HatcheryA healthy laying hen lays about 4 to 6 eggs a week in her first two years, or roughly 200 to 300 eggs a year depending on breed. A hen lays at most one egg a day, because it takes about 24 to 26 hours to form each egg.
Eggs per year by breed
| Breed | Eggs per year | Eggs per week (about) |
|---|---|---|
| White Leghorn | 280–300 | 5–6 |
| Rhode Island Red | 200–300 | 4–6 |
| Australorp | 240–250 | 4–5 |
| Wyandotte | 200–240 | 4–5 |
| Barred Rock | About 200 | 4 |
| Olive Egger | About 200 | 4 |
| Buff Orpington | 180–200 | 3–4 |
| Lavender Orpington | 150–200 | 3–4 |
| Ameraucana | 150–200 | 3–4 |
| Brahma | 150–200 | 3–4 |
| Marans | 150–200 | 3–4 |
See more breeds in our guide to egg colors by breed.
Why egg counts change
- Daylight: hens lay best with 14 to 16 hours of light. Laying slows in late fall and winter, then picks up again in spring.
- Molting: most hens drop old feathers and grow new ones each fall, usually after their first year. They often pause laying for 6 to 12 weeks while they regrow feathers.
- Age: hens lay the most eggs in their first two years. After that, the count drops a little each year, though many keep laying for years.
- Feed and water: layer feed with oyster shell on the side, and fresh water every day, keep production steady.
- Stress and heat: moving, predators nearby, summer heat waves or a new flock member can cause a short break.
- Broodiness: some breeds, such as Orpingtons and Brahmas, may stop laying to sit on eggs.
How many hens do you need?
Three or four good layers usually give a family of four about 1 to 2 dozen eggs a week in spring and summer. Read how many chickens should I get? for help sizing your flock.
Quick answers
Do hens lay eggs every day?
Top layers come close in spring and summer, but most hens skip a day every few days. Five eggs a week is excellent.
Should I add light in winter?
Some keepers add a light on a timer to reach 14 hours. Others let hens rest in winter. Both are common choices.
When do hens stop laying for good?
There is no set age. Laying slows gradually, and many hens still lay some eggs at 5 or 6 years old.
Getting chicks from Chesapeake
Choose high-production breeds such as Rhode Island Reds and Australorps if eggs are your main goal. Shipped chicks travel by USPS Priority Mail to your local post office, and the post office calls you when they arrive. Free local pickup is available on many of our own breeds at 21084 Dover Bridge Rd, Preston, MD 21655. See chick shipping rates and times, read when to order baby chicks, or compare all of our chicken breeds.
