Flockwell
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How old is my chicken, and what's next?

Enter the hatch date to see your bird's age in weeks, and every milestone ahead: when it's fully feathered, when it can go outside, when to change feed, when to expect the first egg and the first molt.

Age in weeks and daysEvery milestone, with datesAdd the dates to your calendar
Type of chicken

Hybrids like ISA Brown start laying soonest; large and heritage breeds like Brahmas and Orpingtons later.

Dates stay on your device. Nothing is sent or saved.

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Milestones

    Get a reminder for each step.

    Add your chicks to Flockwell with their hatch date and it reminds you when to change feed, keeps their health notes, and logs the first egg when it comes.

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    Chicken life stages at a glance

    Typical ages for most backyard breeds. Hybrids are a little earlier, large and heritage breeds later.

    AgeStageWhat to do
    Hatch to 1 weekChickBrooder at about 35 °C (95 °F) under the heat source; chick starter and water
    1 to 6 weeksFeatheringLower the heat about 3 °C (5 °F) each week; give more space as they grow
    6 to 8 weeksFully featheredCan move outside if nights are mild; no heat needed once fully feathered
    8 weeksGrowerSwitch from starter to grower feed
    12 to 20 weeksSexes become clearCockerels grow bigger combs and wattles, and start to crow
    16 to 18 weeksNear point of layCombs redden; put nest boxes in
    18 to 24 weeksPoint of layFirst eggs; switch to layer feed and offer oyster shell
    About 18 monthsFirst adult moltFeathers drop in autumn, eggs pause; give more protein
    2 years and upMature henLaying slowly tapers off each year

    These are typical ages for planning. Breeds and birds differ, and pullets that reach laying age in the short days of autumn often wait until spring.

    Questions

    How can I tell how old a chicken is without a hatch date?

    Roughly: chicks have down and grow wing feathers in the first 2 weeks, are fully feathered by about 6 to 8 weeks, and pullets' combs redden near laying age at around 18 to 24 weeks. In adults, age is hard to tell. Young hens have smooth legs and bright combs; older hens tend to have rougher, scalier legs.

    When do chickens start laying eggs?

    Most pullets lay their first egg between 18 and 24 weeks old. Laying hybrids can start at about 16 to 18 weeks, large and heritage breeds at 24 weeks or later. Short autumn and winter days can delay the start until spring.

    When can chicks go outside?

    Once they're fully feathered, usually around 6 to 8 weeks, and the nights are mild. Before that they need a heat source. Short supervised trips outside on warm days are fine earlier.

    How long do chickens live?

    Backyard chickens often live 5 to 8 years, and some longer. Laying is best in the first two years and slowly falls after that.

    When do I switch to layer feed?

    When the first eggs appear, or at about 18 weeks. Layer feed has extra calcium that young growing birds don't need, so don't start it too early.

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