Your First Egg: What to Expect in the First 6 Weeks

You've brought home your pullets. The coop is set up, the feed is stocked, and now you're checking the nesting boxes every morning with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas. Here's what to expect in those first six weeks — week by week — so you know what's normal and what to watch for.

Before the First Egg: Signs It's Coming

Point-of-lay pullets give clear signals that laying is imminent. Watch for:

  • Bright red comb and wattles — A pullet's comb goes from pale pink to deep red as she approaches laying age. This is the most reliable visual indicator.
  • Squatting behavior — When you reach down to pet or pick up a pullet and she squats flat, wings slightly spread, she's ready to lay. This is a submissive mating posture — it means her hormones are active and eggs are coming soon.
  • Exploring nesting boxes — Pullets will start sitting in nesting boxes, rearranging bedding, and generally investigating before they lay their first egg.
  • Increased vocalization — Many hens become more vocal in the days before their first egg. The classic "egg song" — a loud, repetitive clucking — often starts before laying begins.
  • Wider pelvic bones — You can feel this: place two fingers between the pelvic bones (the two sharp points on either side of the vent). A pullet ready to lay will have 2–3 finger-widths of space. A non-laying bird will have 1 finger-width or less.

Week by Week

Week 1: Settling In

The first week is about adjustment. New birds in a new environment are stressed — even healthy, well-raised pullets need time to settle. Don't be alarmed if you don't see eggs in week one. Focus on:

  • Making sure all birds are eating and drinking normally
  • Keeping the coop quiet and low-traffic
  • Placing a fake egg or golf ball in the nesting box to show them where to lay
  • Confining birds to the coop and run (not free ranging yet) so they learn where home is

Some pullets lay within 2–3 days of arrival. Others take 2–3 weeks. Both are normal.

Week 2: First Eggs Appear

For most point-of-lay flocks, the first eggs arrive in week 1–2. Expect:

  • Small eggs — First eggs are often noticeably smaller than what the hen will eventually produce. This is completely normal. Egg size increases over the first several weeks of laying.
  • Soft or thin shells — The first few eggs from a new layer sometimes have thin, soft, or wrinkled shells as her system calibrates. Make sure oyster shell is available free-choice.
  • Eggs on the floor — Some pullets lay their first eggs on the floor before figuring out the nesting boxes. Redirect them by placing eggs in the box and blocking off floor corners.
  • Double yolks — More common in new layers as the reproductive system gets into rhythm. A fun surprise, not a problem.

Week 3: Production Ramps Up

By week 3, most of your flock should be laying. Production won't be at full capacity yet — expect roughly 60–70% of your eventual daily output. Eggs will be getting larger and shells more consistent.

This is a good time to:

  • Establish a collection routine (once or twice daily)
  • Note which hens are laying and which aren't yet — stragglers are normal
  • Begin free ranging if you choose, now that birds know where home is

Week 4: Finding the Rhythm

Hens typically lay one egg every 24–26 hours. Because the cycle is slightly longer than a day, laying time shifts forward each day — a hen that lays at 8am today may lay at 10am tomorrow. Most hens lay in the morning hours.

By week 4, you should have a good sense of your flock's daily output. Golden Comets at full production lay 5–6 eggs per week per hen.

Week 5–6: Full Production

By weeks 5–6, most flocks are at or near peak production. Eggs are full-sized, shells are consistent, and the routine is established. Enjoy it — this is what you waited for.

A few things to watch:

  • Egg eating — If a hen discovers she can eat eggs, she'll do it repeatedly. Collect eggs frequently, ensure nesting boxes aren't overcrowded, and consider roll-away nesting boxes if it becomes a persistent problem.
  • Broody behavior — Some hens will go broody (sit on eggs trying to hatch them) even without a rooster. A broody hen stops laying. See: Why Are My Hens Not Laying? →
  • Seasonal adjustment — If you brought birds home in fall, production may dip as days shorten. Supplemental lighting maintains production through winter.

What a Normal First Egg Looks Like

Your first egg from a Golden Comet will be brown, smaller than a grocery store large egg, and may have a slightly rough or speckled shell. The yolk will be a rich golden-orange if your birds have pasture access. It will taste noticeably better than anything from the grocery store. Crack it into a pan and enjoy the moment — you earned it.

Pro tip: Write the date on your first egg in pencil before you eat it. Many flock owners keep their first egg as a memento. It's a small thing, but you'll remember it.

How to Collect, Clean & Store Farm Fresh Eggs →  |  Back to The Learning Coop →