How long do chickens lay eggs for?

There is no specified time when chickens stop laying eggs. Female chickens, or hens, lay eggs for the majority of their lives, from about six months of age onward.

Hens can lay eggs throughout their entire lives, though reproduction slows down and may stop as they age. A mature chicken may lay an egg every day or may lay an egg once every couple of days. Before a hen fully matures, she may lay smaller eggs that have a small amount of blood on the shell. Hens can lay eggs without a rooster present. If a rooster is present, he may fertilize the eggs that turn into chicks if allowed to incubate.