Eggs a week, on average
46eggs a week
- 6.6eggs a day
- 3.8dozen a week
- 2,400eggs a year
- 10 hens lay about 46 eggs a week over a year: 38 to 54.
- That is 3.8 dozen a week, and 2,000 to 2,800 eggs a year.
- That is an average. They lay more in long summer days, fewer in winter, and stop while they molt.
- A hen lays one egg a day at most. An egg takes about 26 hours to form.
Eggs a year by breed
| Breed | Eggs a year | Eggs a week |
|---|---|---|
| White Leghorn | 250 to 300 | 4.8 to 5.8 |
| Rhode Island Red | 250 to 280 | 4.8 to 5.4 |
| Barred Rock | 200 to 280 | 3.8 to 5.4 |
| Black Australorp | 200 to 280 | 3.8 to 5.4 |
| Buff Orpington | 200 to 280 | 3.8 to 5.4 |
| Ameraucana or Easter Egger | 180 to 200 | 3.5 to 3.8 |
| Standard Cochin | 100 to 160 | 1.9 to 3.1 |
One hen in her first year of laying, from UNH Extension. Eggs a week is our math: the year divided by 52. For a mixed flock, the calculator uses 200 to 280, the range UNH gives Barred Rocks, Australorps and Orpingtons. Farm Leghorns lay about 265 a year (Oregon State). US farm hens laid 288 each in 2025 (USDA).
A hen’s laying life
- 18 to 22 weeks: the first eggs. Oregon State says 18 to 20.
- About 35 weeks: the most eggs. A hen lays 9 eggs in 10 days or better, for about 10 weeks (Oregon State).
- First year: ten hens lay about 9 eggs a day once they all start (UNH).
- After 13 months: ten hens lay about 6 to 7 a day (UNH). The calculator scales the year by the same amount: 6/9 to 7/9.
- 2 to 3 years: laying slows down (Oregon State). Eggs get fewer, and shells get weaker, each year (Wisconsin).
- 3 to 4 years: most flocks lay for this long in all (Wisconsin). By then, eggs often come off and on (Arizona).
Why hens stop laying
- Short days. Hens need 14 to 16 hours of light to lay well (Wisconsin, Arizona). Mississippi State says at least 16. Oregon’s winter days are just over 8 hours.
- The molt. Most hens molt once a year, in August to October (Arizona). They stop laying until it is done. That takes 2 to 3 months for hens that molt late in the year, and up to 4 to 6 months for others (Mississippi State).
- A broody hen. A hen sitting on eggs stops laying. Left alone, it may last 3 to 6 weeks (Arizona). Cochins and Silkies go broody often. Leghorns seldom do (Oregon State).
- Stress. Moving, handling, heat, fright, or no food or water can stop eggs (Oregon State). In hot weather, hens eat less and lay less (Arizona).
- The wrong feed. Do not feed starter or grower feed to hens that lay. Give only the treats they eat in 15 minutes (Oregon State).
- Sickness. Sick hens lay fewer eggs (Arizona). If hens look sick, ask your vet.
Questions
How many eggs do chickens lay a day?
A hen lays one egg a day at most. Ten young hens lay about 9 eggs a day once they all start, says UNH Extension. After 13 months of laying, ten hens lay about 6 to 7 a day.
How often do chickens lay eggs?
An egg takes about 26 hours to form. So a hen lays a little later each day. Then she skips a day or more, and starts again, says Wisconsin Extension.
When do chickens start laying eggs?
Most pullets lay their first egg at 18 to 22 weeks old, says Arizona Extension. Oregon State says 18 to 20 weeks. UNH says to plan on five months from chick to first egg.
How many eggs does a chicken lay in a year?
It depends on the breed. UNH gives 250 to 300 for a White Leghorn and 200 to 280 for a Barred Rock. US farm hens laid 288 each in 2025, says USDA.
Do chickens lay eggs in winter?
Fewer. Hens lay best with 14 to 16 hours of light a day. Mississippi State says at least 16. In New Hampshire, a flock with no lights stops laying by about October 31, says UNH.
How many years do chickens lay eggs?
Hens lay well until 2 to 3 years old, says Oregon State. Most flocks lay for 3 to 4 years, with fewer eggs each year, says Wisconsin Extension.
Sources
- UNH Extension, Producing Your Own EggsundatedEggs a year for 7 breeds; 9 eggs a day from 10 hens, 6 to 7 after 13 months
- Oregon State Extension PNW 565, Why did my chickens stop laying?Jan 2003, reviewed 2023First egg, peak at 35 weeks, light, broody hens, stress
- University of Arizona Extension az2186, Nine Common Reasons Your Hens Aren’t LayingJan 2026First egg at 18 to 22 weeks; light, molt, broody hens, heat
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, Life Cycle of a Laying HenundatedOne egg every 24 to 26 hours; laying years; 14 to 16 hours of light
- Mississippi State Extension, Molting of Laying HensundatedHens stop laying in the molt, 2 to 6 months
- USDA NASS, Chickens and Eggs 2025 SummaryFeb 2026US commercial hens laid 288 eggs each in 2025