How long do easter egger chickens lay

The average life expectancy of backyard chickens is in the year range. Chickens do not lay at full capacity for most of their lives, however. They really only lay close to full capacity for the first years, before production starts to drop off pretty steeply.

By the time a chicken reaches their twilight years, it will have tapered off to laying very few eggs. Related — When do welsummer chickens start laying eggs? Easter eggers are interesting chickens. They are highly sought after due to their unique colored eggs but do not meet any breed standards defined by the American Poultry Association APA.

For example, olive eggers are created by crossing blue and dark brown egg-laying chickens. So, an Araucana with a Marans or a Barnevelder, for example, as this results in olive or green colored eggs. How long chickens lay eggs is a question we often get and the answer is — it really depends on the chicken breed.

Chicken life expectancy if properly nurtured is from 8 to 15 years, and chickens can continue to lay into their teens. Heritage or traditional breeds, on the other hand, are often kept much longer and will lay eggs into their old age. They were bred to maximize production while minimizing costs. They are the breeds that most commercial egg producing operations use and they usually keep the birds for about two years before replacing them. These breeds may also produce through winter when young without the addition of added light.

Since they are commonly replaced so young in commercial situations, some believe that they quit producing eggs after about two years. These were the breeds that were traditionally kept on small farms to provide eggs for the farm and they are well adapted to foraging and changing climatic conditions.

Once they were too old to produce reliable numbers of eggs, then they went into the stewing pot because they were large enough to make using them for meat worthwhile.

If getting lots of eggs so that you can provide for your family and sell eggs to your neighbors and community is important, then clearly the hybrid breeds are a good place to start. Just remember that after around two years, these birds will need to be replaced if you want continued high production. If having a few chickens to produce eggs and meat for your family is the goal, then the traditional birds are probably a better place to start.

Exactly how long they will continue to do that depends on the traditional breed chosen and the individual bird, but they will generally keep producing eggs for many years if allowed to stay. Many chicken-keepers like to keep a mixed flock of both hybrid birds and heritage birds. Each year we incubate a couple of heritage Buckeyes see About Buckeye Chickens but also buy a couple hybrid day-old Golden Buffs. That way, all our birds get to live a long and productive life foraging in their pasture regardless of exactly how many eggs they are producing.

Like us, many backyard chicken-keepers get attached to their birds and find that as they age, egg production is not their top priority. If you are planning on owning chickens, it is important to read up on issues that commonly affect them. This way, you will be able to identify a serious issue if it arises. This will also allow you the ability to provide first-aid care for your flock.

Your flock may need tended to, but do not need to visit the vet. They may need to be administered medication, have their feet cared for, or have a wound taken care of. Minor issues can be addressed at home, while serious issues will need to be addressed by a vet. When a chicken starts laying eggs can varying, depending on several factors.

However, chickens generally start laying eggs around the time they are 18 weeks old. Shorter windows of daylight may cause a chicken to not lay as many eggs. This is especially true when it is the winter months, as the days are usually colder and darker. Chickens that are healthy will usually lay eggs for around two to three years. Egg laying will begin to slow down after this time frame and then taper off. During this period of less egg laying, the eggs may be larger. If you are wanting something more specific, you can read our article: How often do chicken laying eggs.

Once a chicken has stopped laying eggs , there are a few different options you have. Even though a chicken has stopped laying eggs, you may still use her to contribute in other ways to your flock or to keep around as a companion chicken. A chicken that is older will still be a great bug catcher and could help control the weeds in your garden. Older chickens will also help to keep eggs warm or raise chicks, providing the flock with more experience than the younger hens may have. You may also decide that once a hen has stopped producing eggs that it will be time to use the chicken for meat.

While older chickens generally have tougher meat, the meat will still be useful for stew or other dishes. However, if it is wintertime, you may choose to wait. Generally in the spring, hens will begin laying once again. When deciding on what chickens to have in your flock, you may have considered one of these three breeds. Listed below are three of the most popular breeds and their chicken lifespan. Rhode Island Red are some of the most popular chickens and you have most likely seen them before.

This type of chicken can live around 8 years. They are most common for beginners or those who wish to keep chickens for a long time. Read more about Rhode Island Red. Golden Comets are most well-known for how many eggs that they produce. They typically produce an egg a day. However, these chickens are more prone to developing reproductive issues.

They can live up to five years old. Read more about Golden Comet. Easter Egger is a hybrid type of hen and is sought after due to their eggs that are laid in a variety of colors.

Since they do not lay as many eggs as the Golden Comets, they generally have a longer chicken lifespan. Easter Egger can live around 8 years old. Read more about Easter Egger.