What is the Laying Cycle for A Chicken?

The Average Laying Cycle for a Chicken

Hens lay eggs according to age and the length of daylight hours. Much also depends 

on whether the hen goes broody, or sits on eggs with the intention of hatching chicks. 

Broody hens lay a clutch of eggs during a period of one to two weeks, sitting on them 

for three weeks afterward until chicks emerge.

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Laying Eggs

Pullets -- female chickens in their first year of life -- start laying eggs about the age of 5 

months. These initial eggs are smaller than those produced by older birds. Hens lay eggs 

whether or not a rooster is present, although without a rooster the eggs are unfertilized. 

Also Read: How to increase chicken egg production rate?

Young hens usually will lay an egg daily when light is sufficient, with the average about 270 

eggs annually. As hens age, production drops, so hens older the age of 2 years might lay an 

egg just once or twice a week.

Daylight Hours

In order for hens to lay, they need at least 14 hours of daylight. Hens who laid an egg daily in 

spring and summer start slowing down as autumn approaches, possibly ceasing to lay at all in 

the winter months. Under natural conditions, these hens won't lay again until spring. However, 

you can use artificial lighting in the hen house to fool their bodies into thinking it's time to 

produce eggs. Put the lights on a timer, so that the extra hours occur in the otherwise dark 

predawn.