Point-of-Lay Laying Hens

Point of lay hens for sale are pullets at 16–20 weeks — either just laying or within a few weeks of their first egg. They are the fastest, lowest-effort way to start a laying flock.

Choosing point of lay hens

ISA Brown and Hyline are the reliable brown-egg workhorses, laying 280–320 eggs in the first year. Australorp and Plymouth Rock lay a little less but for more years, go broody more readily and make a better dual-purpose bird. All of ours are sold vaccinated (Marek's, and usually Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis) and sexed as females. Look for a bright red comb and wattles as a sign a hen is close to lay.

Getting them laying

Most point of lay hens start within two to six weeks of moving in, once they settle and daylight allows. Feed a layer ration (around 16–17% protein) with free-choice shell grit for strong shells, keep water clean and unfrozen, and give at least one nest box per three or four hens in a quiet, dim corner. Stress from the move, a cold snap or a predator scare can all delay the first egg by a week or two. The NSW DPI poultry pages cover housing, feed and disease in more detail.

Collected from our farm partner by appointment, or delivered within a limited Sydney radius.

Egg output through the year

A first-year ISA Brown or Hyline lays close to an egg a day in spring and summer, tapering through autumn as daylight drops, and often pausing to moult in their second autumn. Output falls by roughly 15–20% each year after the first, but eggs get larger. Australorps lay fewer — around 250 a year — but keep going for more seasons and go broody more readily.

Feeding for good shells

Once a hen is in lay she needs a layer ration (around 16–17% protein) plus free-choice shell grit or crushed shell for calcium — without it, shells go thin and the hen draws calcium from her own bones. Scraps and scratch grain are fine as a small treat but shouldn't make up more than about 10% of the diet, or protein and calcium drop and laying stalls.