Egg Production Estimator

Eggs per week from your flock — by breed, age, season, lighting. Plus feed-per-egg, COGS, and revenue projections.

Flock production

Flock

Primary breed Leghorn (white) — production-bred ISA Brown / Red Sex-Link — production-bred Rhode Island Red — heritage / dual Plymouth Rock — heritage / dual Buff Orpington — heritage Wyandotte — heritage Ameraucana / Easter Egger — colored Marans — chocolate brown Silkie — bantam / show Khaki Campbell duck Indian Runner duck Coturnix quail

Hen count

Average flock age (months)

Supplemental lighting? No (natural daylight) Yes (14-16 hours year-round)

Pricing

Price per dozen ($) Wholesale ~$3-4; farmstand $5-7; high-end $8-10

Feed cost ($/50 lb bag) Layer crumble; organic ~$30-35

Breed comparison

Breed	Eggs/yr peak	Egg color	Notes
Leghorn (white)	280-320	White	Most productive; small body; flighty; less cold-hardy
ISA Brown / Red Sex-Link	280-320	Brown	Production hybrid; sex-linked at hatch; burnout faster than heritage
Rhode Island Red	220-260	Brown	Hardy heritage workhorse; slower to mature
Plymouth Rock (Barred)	200-250	Brown	Calm; cold-hardy; good dual purpose
Buff Orpington	175-220	Brown / pinkish	Friendly; broody; English heritage
Wyandotte	200-240	Brown	Beautiful laced patterns; cold-hardy
Ameraucana / Easter Egger	180-220	Blue / green / pink (variable)	"Rainbow eggs" marketing; less productive but premium
Marans	150-180	Dark chocolate	Specialty; striking dark eggs; lower production
Khaki Campbell duck	280-320	White-cream, large	Best laying duck; needs water access
Indian Runner duck	220-280	White, large	Foraging champ; eggs slightly larger than chicken
Coturnix quail	280-300	Mottled tiny	5g eggs; first lay at week 6-8; tiny but prolific

Production curve through life

Age	Production %	Notes
0-4 months	0%	Pullets; growing; first egg ~18-22 weeks for chickens
5-12 months	90-100% peak	First laying year; smaller pullet eggs initially, full-size by month 8
13-18 months	~85%	First fall: 6-8 week molt; light or short days slow production
19-30 months	~75%	Second laying year; eggs larger but fewer
31-48 months	~60%	Third year decline; commercial flocks culled by now
4+ years	~40%	Hobby flocks only; production keeps decreasing

Seasonal variation

Without supplemental lighting, production drops significantly in fall/winter:

• Spring (Mar-May): Peak production; days lengthening
• Summer (Jun-Aug): 90-95% of peak; heat above 95°F reduces production
• Fall (Sep-Nov): Drops to 50-70% as days shorten + molt begins
• Winter (Dec-Feb): 30-50% production at northern latitudes; near-stop for some breeds

14-16 hours of light (natural + supplemental) maintains 80-90% year-round production.

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