LifeFixUk | Practical Self Sufficiency for British Smallholders

How many eggs can you expect from a hen per week? (Real data from my Sussex flock) When I first started keeping chickens, I read all the books and blogs. They promised up to 7 eggs per week per hen . Some even claimed you could get two eggs a day with the right lighting. Sounded great. So I tried. And then reality hit. Based on my years of keeping Light Sussex and Buff Orpingtons here in Devon, here's what you can actually expect. And no, the books don't always tell the full story. The short answer (and why it's not that simple) On average, a healthy Light Sussex hen in its first laying year will produce 4 to 5 eggs per week . That's roughly 200 to 260 eggs per year . Some weeks you'll get more. Some weeks less. But two eggs a day? That's a myth. Let me give you real data from my own records. In August last year, my 6 Light Sussex hens laid 29 eggs in one week . That's 4.8 eggs per hen. Not 7. Not even 6. But 29 eggs from a small garden floc...

At what age do Light Sussex hens start laying eggs? (Real experience from a Devon smallholding) If you've just brought home your first batch of Light Sussex chicks, you're probably wondering: "When will I finally get an egg?" I remember that feeling. I used to check the nest boxes every morning, hoping to find that first perfect egg. And when it finally came — small, a bit wonky, and sitting right on the coop floor — I carried it inside like it was made of gold. Based on my years of keeping Sussex and Orpingtons here in Devon, here's what you can actually expect. And no, the books don't always get it right. The short answer (and why it's not that simple) Most Light Sussex pullets start laying between 5 and 7 months . Some early birds may lay as early as 4.5 months — especially if they were hatched in early spring. Others, particularly late-summer hatches, may take up to 8 months. Compare that to Orpingtons. My Orpingtons often took 7 to 9 mon...