When Will My Pullets Start Laying? — What Every New Flock Owner Needs to Know
By Happy Heart Farms | Live Oak, Florida
It’s the question every new chicken keeper asks within days of bringing their birds home — sometimes within hours. You’ve got your coop set up, your feed sorted, your waterer filled, and your pullets are settling in beautifully. And then it hits you: when do I actually get eggs?
The honest answer is that it depends — on the breed, the season, the feed, the light, and the individual bird. But “it depends” isn’t terribly useful when you’re checking the nest boxes every morning with growing anticipation. So here is everything you need to know, as practically as we can make it.
What Is a Pullet, Exactly?
A pullet is a female chicken that has not yet begun laying — typically used to describe hens in their first year of life. Once a hen lays her first egg and establishes a laying pattern, she transitions from pullet to laying hen in the practical sense, even though the term pullet technically applies through her first year.
At Happy Heart Farms we sell pullets at 2 months old — fully feathered, past the fragile chick stage, and already several weeks into the countdown toward their first egg. The age at which they’ll begin laying depends primarily on the breed you’ve chosen.
The Two Categories You Need to Know
After years of raising thousands of birds and working with flock owners across North Florida and the Southeast, we’ve found the simplest and most accurate way to answer this question is to divide our breeds into two categories:
Production breeds — birds specifically developed or selected for maximum egg output — tend to begin laying between 20 and 24 weeks of age.
All other breeds — heritage breeds, dual-purpose breeds, rare varieties, and large breeds — have a much wider window. Expect anywhere from 24 to 36+ weeks, with significant variation between individual birds even within the same breed.
That wide window on the second category is not a mistake or an evasion. It’s the honest reality. A Buff Orpington and a Jersey Giant are both in that second group, but they have very different timelines. A Black Copper Marans and a Barred Rock are both in that group, and they’ll start at different times too. When customers ask us exactly when their specific heritage breed will start laying, we give them the honest answer — it varies, and the best thing you can do is watch for the signs rather than watch the calendar.
Production Breeds — 20 to 24 Weeks
The following breeds we carry at Happy Heart Farms are our production and high-output birds. These are the breeds you choose when getting eggs quickly and consistently is the priority:
ISA Brown, Golden Comet, Amberlink, Cinnamon Queen, Black Sex-Link, Blue Rock, Columbian Rock Cross, White Leghorn, Brown Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, and Australorp.
These birds were either specifically bred for commercial egg production or have been developed and refined over generations to prioritize early maturity and high output. The Australorps earned their place in this group through exceptional laying genetics — the Black Australorp holds the world egg production record — and they consistently perform alongside the commercial hybrids in our experience.
Within this group, 20 to 24 weeks is a reliable window. Some birds in this category will surprise you and start at the earlier end of that range. Others will take the full 24 weeks. Either end is completely normal and not a cause for concern.
All Other Breeds — 24 to 36+ Weeks
Every other breed we carry falls into this second category — and the window is genuinely wide:
Barred Plymouth Rock, Partridge Plymouth Rock, Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, Easter Egger, Olive Egger, Lavender Olive Egger, Cream Legbar, Buff Orpington, Black Orpington, Lavender Orpington, Chocolate Orpington, Red Orpington, Golden Laced Wyandotte, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, Splash Laced Red Wyandotte, Lavender Wyandotte, Bielefelder, Cuckoo Marans, Black Copper Marans, Blue Copper Marans, Golden Cuckoo Marans, Lavender Marans, Splash Marans, Buff Brahma, Dark Brahma, Light Brahma, Black Jersey Giant, Blue Jersey Giant, and Splash Jersey Giant.
A few things worth knowing about this group:
Heritage breeds take longer by design. Heritage breeds were developed over generations for qualities beyond pure egg production — temperament, hardiness, dual-purpose value, or visual beauty. Their slower maturity is part of who they are, not a flaw. The Speckled Sussex that takes 28 weeks to start laying will reward you with years of reliable production and a personality that makes her a joy to keep.
Large breeds take the longest. Brahmas and Jersey Giants in particular need significant time for their bodies to fully develop before egg production begins. A Light Brahma that doesn’t start until 34 or 36 weeks is doing exactly what Light Brahmas do. Plan accordingly — and know that when she does start laying, she’ll often continue producing steadily through the winter months when many other breeds slow down.
Rare varieties are less predictable. A Black Copper Marans or a Lavender Wyandotte may be in the hands of fewer breeders and less extensively studied than an ISA Brown or a Rhode Island Red. Their laying timelines can vary more between individual birds. This is part of what makes rare breeds interesting — and part of why patience matters when you’ve chosen something special.
Individual variation is real. Two hens of the same breed, raised in the same coop, fed the same feed, can start laying weeks apart from each other. This is completely normal. Don’t compare your birds to someone else’s on a Facebook group and worry when yours is a week or two behind. Watch your individual bird, not the calendar.
What to Expect Before the First Egg
In the weeks leading up to her first egg, your pullet will give you clear signals that laying is approaching. Learning to read these signs takes the mystery out of the waiting period — and makes the whole experience a lot more fun.
The comb and wattles redden and grow. This is one of the most reliable early indicators regardless of breed. A pullet approaching laying age develops a noticeably redder, fuller comb and wattles compared to the pale, underdeveloped comb of an immature bird. If her comb is still small and pale pink, she is not close. If it’s deep red and full, eggs are likely days or weeks away.
She starts exploring the nesting boxes. Pullets approaching laying age become curious about nesting boxes — you’ll catch them sitting in boxes, rearranging bedding, or just hanging out in there without producing anything. This is normal pre-laying behavior and a reliable sign that the first egg is not far off.
The squat. One of the clearest physical signs of imminent laying is what chicken keepers call the submissive squat — when you approach your pullet and she crouches down, flattens her wings slightly, and holds still. This is a hormonal response associated with mating readiness and typically appears within a week or two of first lay. When your pullets start squatting, get excited — eggs are coming soon.
Increased appetite and water consumption. Producing eggs requires significant nutritional resources. Pullets approaching laying age often eat noticeably more and drink more as their bodies ramp up for production.
Vocalizations change. Many flock owners notice their birds become more vocal as first lay approaches. The classic egg song that hens sing after laying is often previewed in the days before the first egg arrives.
What Can Delay Laying
Even with the right genetics and good care, several factors can push your pullets’ first egg later than expected. These are worth knowing about so you don’t worry unnecessarily when your birds take their time.
Seasonal light. Chickens need approximately 14 to 16 hours of daylight to trigger and sustain egg production. Pullets that reach maturity in fall or winter — when days are shorter — may delay their first lay until day length increases in spring. This is completely natural and not a health concern. If you want year-round production regardless of season, supplemental lighting in the coop can extend the day artificially and keep production consistent.
Stress. Moving to a new home, being introduced to an established flock, predator pressure, extreme heat, or any significant change in environment can delay first lay. This is one of the reasons our customers’ pullets sometimes take a few extra weeks after pickup before laying begins — they are adjusting to new surroundings, new flock mates, and a new routine. Give them time, a calm environment, and consistent care, and production will follow.
Nutritional issues. Pullets need adequate protein, calcium, and balanced nutrition to support egg production. If they are on improper feed — still on chick starter when they should have transitioned to grower or layer feed, or eating a treats-heavy diet that dilutes the nutritional value of their main feed — first lay can be delayed. Make sure your birds are on age-appropriate, quality feed throughout their growth.
Heat. Florida’s summer heat specifically can delay first lay and reduce production in mature hens. Pullets approaching laying age need shade, fresh cool water, and good coop ventilation during the hottest months. A pullet that is heat-stressed is putting her energy into staying cool rather than starting to lay.
Illness. Any health issue can divert the body’s resources away from egg production. A pullet that is unwell — even mildly — may delay her first lay until she has fully recovered. If you suspect illness is delaying production, consult a poultry veterinarian rather than simply waiting it out.
A Note on Feed as Laying Approaches
At Happy Heart Farms we sell our pullets at 2 months old on grower feed. As your birds approach laying age it is time to begin transitioning them to layer feed, which contains higher calcium levels essential for strong eggshell formation.
A few things to keep in mind with this transition:
Don’t rush the switch to layer feed before your birds are close to laying age. The extra calcium in layer feed is hard on developing kidneys in birds that are not yet producing eggs. Watch for the pre-laying signs described above and use those as your cue to transition rather than switching at a fixed number of weeks.
Once your birds begin laying, offer crushed oyster shell free-choice in a separate dish. Hens self-regulate their calcium intake based on need, and oyster shell provides a reliable supplement that supports consistent, strong eggshells throughout your hens’ laying lives.
The first eggs from any pullet are often smaller than you’d expect — sometimes significantly so. First eggs may also be oddly shaped, soft-shelled, double-yolked, or arrive without a yolk at all. These are all normal variations that occur as the hen’s reproductive system calibrates itself. By the time a pullet has been laying for 4 to 6 weeks, her eggs will be approaching their normal size and consistency and her production pattern will have established itself.
The Bottom Line
If you chose production breeds — ISA Browns, Golden Comets, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns, and the other high-output birds in that first group — expect your first eggs somewhere around 20 to 24 weeks. Mark your calendar, watch for the signs, and get your nest boxes ready.
If you chose heritage breeds, rare varieties, or large breeds, settle in for a longer and less predictable wait. Anywhere from 24 to 36 weeks or beyond is normal depending on the specific breed and the individual bird. Watch your birds rather than the calendar. The signs will tell you when laying is close — and when that first egg arrives after a long wait, it always feels like the most exciting egg in the world.
Either way, you made a great choice. Every breed we carry at Happy Heart Farms produces for years with proper care, and the wait — however long it takes — is always worth it.
Your Next Steps
If you haven’t yet chosen your breeds and getting eggs quickly is the priority, browse our Top Egg Producers page for our fastest-maturing, highest-output birds. If you want to compare everything we carry, our Complete List of Chickens is the place to start.
When you’re ready to purchase, visit our Shop to see available breeds and upcoming pickup dates. And if you have questions about which breeds best suit your goals — or anything at all about getting your flock started — give us a call at 386-208-0495. Helping you build the right flock is one of our favorite things to do.
~ Grateful hearts make happy hearts ~