Raising Backyard
Chickens 101

Chickens typically start laying eggs between 16 – 24 weeks of age. However, this can vary depending on factors like breed, environment, and overall care. Providing optimal living conditions, a balanced diet, and minimizing stress can help ensure your backyard flock begin laying eggs on schedule. Visit Raising Backyard Chickens 101 for more information.

The number of eggs your chickens will lay depends on several factors, including their breed, age, health, and living conditions. Here’s a general overview:

1. Breed: High-producing breeds like White Leghorns can lay up to 320 eggs annually. Other prolific layers, such as Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks, typically produce around 250-280 eggs per year.
2. Age: Chickens are most productive in their first two years of laying. In the first year, you can expect about 200-250 eggs. This number may decrease to 150-200 eggs in the second year and continue to decline as the chickens age.
3. Health and Diet: Healthy chickens with a balanced diet will lay more consistently. Ensuring proper nutrition, regular health checks, and a stress-free environment is crucial for maintaining good egg production.
4. Season and Environment: Egg production can slow down in winter due to shorter daylight hours. Providing supplemental light in the coop can help maintain egg production during these months.

By considering these factors, you can estimate the number of eggs your chickens will produce throughout the year.

There are several signs that can indicate your chicken is ready to start laying eggs:

1. Age: Most chickens begin laying between 16 – 24 weeks, depending on the breed.
2. Comb and Wattles: As hens near laying age, their combs and wattles (the fleshy parts on their heads and necks) become more prominent and turn a vibrant red.
3. Squatting Behaviour: Hens often squat when approached, indicating sexual maturity and readiness to lay.
4. Nesting Behavior: You may notice your hen spending more time in the nesting boxes, arranging bedding, or showing interest in creating a nest.
5. Vent Changes: The vent (where eggs are laid) becomes larger, moist, and more elastic as the hen prepares to lay.
6. Increased Vocalization: Some hens become more vocal, making clucking or cackling sounds as they approach laying age.

By watching for these signs, you can tell when your chicken is getting ready to start laying eggs.

Feeding backyard chickens is a highly debated topic. This controversy arises from several factors: chickens are raised for both meat and egg production, they thrive in diverse environments with varied dietary options, and there are hundreds of different breeds, each with unique nutritional needs. As a result, there is a wide range of opinions on the optimal feeding practices for chickens, leading to differing views on how to best nourish not only one’s own flock but also those of others. There are many resources and expert advice on poultry tailored to your area, veterinarians specializing in poultry, experience local farmers and feed stores, online forums and communities, books and publications. Leveraging these resources, you can gain a well-rounded understanding of how to successfully manage your backyard flock.

In the Maritimes, it is advisable to keep chickens and turkeys in separate enclosures. This practice helps prevent the spread of diseases, particularly blackhead disease (histomoniasis). Chickens can carry this disease without showing symptoms, but it can be fatal to turkeys. Additionally, chickens and turkeys have different space and dietary needs. Turkeys are larger and more assertive, which can lead to conflicts if they are housed together.

By providing separate housing and carefully managing their environments, you can ensure the health and well-being of both your chickens and turkeys.