will vary between breeds. All birds tend to come into lay earlier during periods of increasing sunlight, or later if they reach maturity in early winter.
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A healthy and productive female hen will lay eggs until they are about 72 weeks old, however this will also depend on the period of their first moult.
Birds have an annual moult and grow lovely new feathers in their place. This generally occurs in late summer or early Autumn, and the result is a tatty and quite alarming looking bird. During moult, chickens will generally cease egg production, although they may lay one here and there, as al Page 19 of 223
