New Hampshire Red Egg Production: How Many Eggs Per Year?

Use the egg production calculator to model your specific flock.

Production ranges

The Normal row is the most realistic starting point for planning. It assumes a healthy first or second year hen of standard dual-purpose stock, on layer feed, whose broody spells are interrupted rather than left to run. Four eggs a week is the honest planning figure for this breed — not the daily egg a production hybrid will give you.

220 is a ceiling, and the sources disagree about it. The Livestock Conservancy publishes 200 to 220, and our figure is the top of that. Cackle Hatchery (200 to 280) and Mile Four (200 to 260) both contain it comfortably. Meyer Hatchery (170 to 200) and Lafeber (about 180) sit entirely below it. That is a real spread, not rounding, and the Conservancy names the reason: “Production strains for rapid growth and better dressing do not have the egg production qualities of the standard dual purpose New Hampshire.” Which bird you bought matters more here than how you keep her.

By year, month, week, and day

A hen lays one egg every 24 to 26 hours at full production and skips days, so the daily average never reaches 1.0. For a New Hampshire Red the yearly average is pulled down by two things in particular: broody spells, during which she lays nothing at all, and the winter dip, which is shallow for this breed but real. Counting on four eggs a week per hen across the whole year is a sound planning rule.

The formula

Scale to any flock size:

Weekly eggs = Number of hens × 5 × Age Factor × Season Factor

The baseline of 5 is a New Hampshire Red’s weekly output at peak. Mile Four puts a hen at 4 to 5 large brown eggs a week in her peak season, and 5 is the top of that. Adjust it down with the factors below as the flock ages and the seasons change.

Example: 6 hens × 5 × 0.84 (Year 2) × 0.75 (winter, no light) = 19 eggs per week.

The age and season multipliers above are our standard curve, applied across the site rather than measured on New Hampshire Reds specifically. One caution about reading the formula: it gives the rate while a hen is laying. Run at the peak baseline through a whole year and the arithmetic lands near 234, above the Normal figure of 220. The gap is brooding — a hen sitting a clutch contributes nothing for several weeks — which is exactly why the Normal row assumes broody spells are broken. Use the egg production calculator to model your flock by age and season, then subtract for the broody spells you expect.

How production drops year over year

Production slides down gradually rather than stopping at a set age. The table applies the age factors to the Normal annual figure of ~220 eggs.

Mile Four gives the breed a 5 to 7 year life and Lafeber 5 to 8, so a hen will usually outlive her productive laying by several years. Mile Four also describes two strong laying years before output tapers, which is what the age curve above shows. A common approach is adding a young pullet or two every other year, so the flock keeps producing while the older birds slow down.

Month by month (first-year hen)

New Hampshire Reds are genuinely good winter layers. The Livestock Conservancy describes the breed as known for cold tolerance, and McMurray rates its cold tolerance excellent, so the short-day dip is shallower than most breeds show. The bigger swings come from brooding, which clusters in late spring and early summer.

The natural-light column sums to the Normal figure of 220; adding a 16-hour schedule takes it to roughly 233. That is a gain of about a dozen eggs across the year — worth having, but smaller than the swing between a laying strain and a meat strain, and smaller than what you lose to two uninterrupted broods. If you do add light, start in early September before the days shorten, and aim for 14 to 16 total hours rather than leaving a bulb on overnight.

What changes the number

The single biggest lever on a New Hampshire Red’s annual total is which strain you bought, followed by how often she broods, then her age and the season.

Strain, before anything else

This breed was split by its own history. The Livestock Conservancy is direct about the consequence: “Production strains for rapid growth and better dressing do not have the egg production qualities of the standard dual purpose New Hampshire.” Mississippi State Extension puts the same point more bluntly, saying the breed was “developed more for meat than egg production,” and Oklahoma State’s breed database rates its laying ability as merely “fair.” A bird from a line selected for carcass will land near the Low row no matter how well you keep her, and no feed or lighting change will recover the difference. The Conservancy’s own advice when buying is to ask the breeder directly, because “growth, egg production, and broodiness tend not to go together.”

Broodiness

Five sources agree this breed sits. The Livestock Conservancy lists “prone to go broody; make good mothers” among its defining characteristics, Mississippi State Extension uses almost identical wording, Oklahoma State says “prone to go broody and make good mothers,” McMurray rates broodiness “somewhat likely,” and Wikipedia’s breed summary says hens “sit well, and are good mothers.” A sitting hen lays nothing for the four to six weeks she is on the nest, so two uninterrupted broods can remove a substantial slice of the laying year. Collect eggs frequently and use a cool, open broody-breaker pen if eggs are the goal. If chicks are the goal, this is a breed that will do the job for you rather than needing an incubator.

Cold is fine; the comb is the weak point

The Conservancy says New Hampshires are “known for cold tolerance, but can do well in both cold and warm climates if housed appropriately,” and McMurray rates cold tolerance excellent and heat tolerance good. The catch is anatomical rather than metabolic: this is a single-combed breed, and both McMurray and Mile Four flag frostbite risk on the comb in hard winters. A dry, draught-free but well-ventilated coop matters more than added heat, and petroleum jelly on the comb ahead of a cold snap is a common precaution. Heat is the milder concern, but shade and water still matter through the hottest weeks.

Temperament varies by strain, and the sources say so plainly

Our breed data tags this bird friendly, and for most backyard stock that is fair — the Conservancy calls it “usually a family-friendly chicken and good for beginners,” and Lafeber says “generally friendly; can be competitive around food.” But the Conservancy’s own breed facts list temperament as “Docile, or Competitive and Aggressive,” and it warns that “different source stocks can vary from gentle and docile to unfriendly and even aggressive.” Oklahoma State drops the qualifier entirely and states flatly that “New Hampshires are competitive and aggressive.” That is not a contradiction so much as a range, and it has a practical consequence for a mixed flock: this bird can bully gentler breeds at the feeder. Handle young birds often, watch them with docile flockmates, and keep children away from breeding-season roosters.

Age at first lay

Mile Four puts pullets at point of lay around 20 to 22 weeks, which is early for a dual-purpose breed and consistent with what the breed was selected for. Treat that as hatchery guidance rather than research — no extension service or breed-conservation body publishes an age at first egg for this breed at all. Two smaller sites put it later, at five to six months, which is roughly 22 to 26 weeks; they point the same direction as Mile Four without quite agreeing with it. McMurray lists “20 weeks to maturity,” which is a maturity rating on a spec table rather than a stated age at first egg, so it is not quite the same measurement. Anywhere from about 20 weeks to six months is unremarkable.

Feed and condition

Keep layer feed at 16 to 18% protein with free-choice oyster shell once laying starts. Mile Four’s feeding guidance runs a 20 to 21% chick starter for the first six weeks, then a 16 to 18% grower until point of lay. This breed grows fast and carries meat, which cuts both ways: it eats more than a light layer of the same age, and a hen that quietly runs to fat will lay worse. If a hen stops laying with no broody spell, moult, or seasonal cause to explain it, or shows lameness, weakness, or weight loss, consult a licensed poultry veterinarian.

Egg size and colour

New Hampshire Red eggs are brown — the Conservancy describes the shell as tinted to brown and the eggs themselves as light brown, and Mississippi State says brown to dark brown. Size is large, which both the Conservancy and Cackle give directly, though Wikipedia’s figure of about 55 grams places a typical egg just under the USDA large threshold of 24 ounces per dozen. Lafeber is the outlier, calling them extra large. Expect ordinary, useful table eggs at the large end.

How New Hampshire Reds compare

First-year production under normal backyard conditions. Figures are the ones used across this site’s breed profiles.

The honest verdict: a New Hampshire Red is the parent breed’s slightly less productive, slightly meatier descendant. A Rhode Island Red — the stock this breed was selected out of — will out-lay her by about 40 eggs a year, and if eggs are the only thing you want, that is the bird to buy. What the New Hampshire adds is early maturity, fast feathering, real carcass value, and cold hardiness, in a bird the Conservancy calls good for beginners. It is also a breed worth keeping for its own sake: it is listed Threatened on the Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List, rarer than its ubiquity in hatchery catalogues suggests, and it became New Hampshire’s official state poultry in 2018. For a family flock that wants steady brown eggs, a meat bird, and a hen who will hatch her own replacements, it earns its space. For maximum eggs per square foot, look at the Rhode Island Red or a hybrid.

Use the breed selector quiz to compare breeds against your goals and setup.

Frequently asked questions

How many eggs does a New Hampshire Red lay per year?

About 220 large brown eggs. The Livestock Conservancy publishes 200 to 220 for the breed, so 220 is the top of that range rather than its middle. Hatchery estimates run both higher (Cackle 200 to 280, Mile Four 200 to 260) and lower (Meyer 170 to 200, Lafeber about 180), largely depending on whether the strain was bred for laying or for meat.

How many eggs does a New Hampshire Red lay per week?

Four to five large brown eggs a week at peak, per Mile Four, which works out to about four a week averaged across a full year once winter and broody spells are counted.

When do New Hampshire Reds start laying eggs?

Around 20 to 22 weeks according to Mile Four, which is early for a dual-purpose breed. No extension or conservation source publishes an age at first egg for this breed, and some smaller sites put it later at five to six months, so treat anywhere in that window as normal.

Do New Hampshire Reds go broody?

Yes, often. The Livestock Conservancy, Mississippi State Extension, Oklahoma State, McMurray, and Wikipedia’s breed summary all describe the breed as prone to brooding and good at mothering. That is an asset if you want chicks and a cost if you want eggs, since a sitting hen lays nothing for four to six weeks.

How many eggs will 6 New Hampshire Red hens lay per year?

Roughly 1,320 in a typical first year, with a realistic spread of about 1,080 to 1,560 depending on strain and how broodiness is managed. Run your own numbers with the egg production calculator, which adjusts for flock age and season.

Do New Hampshire Reds lay eggs in winter?

Yes, and better than most breeds. The Conservancy notes the breed is known for cold tolerance and McMurray rates it excellent. The one winter precaution is the single comb, which is vulnerable to frostbite in hard cold.

Are New Hampshire Reds friendly?

Usually, but it varies by strain and the sources say so openly. The Conservancy calls the breed family-friendly and good for beginners while listing temperament as “Docile, or Competitive and Aggressive,” and Oklahoma State describes it flatly as competitive and aggressive. Expect a confident bird that may push gentler breeds around at the feeder.

What color and size are New Hampshire Red eggs?

Brown and large. The Conservancy describes light-brown eggs and Mississippi State brown to dark brown. Wikipedia puts a typical egg at about 55 grams, which is just under the USDA large threshold, while Lafeber calls them extra large.

Sources

The Livestock Conservancy is the only body that publishes an annual egg figure for this breed, so it is weighted above everything else here. Cooperative extension services cover the breed but give no egg count at all. Hatchery and retailer pages, which do give counts, are ranked below both and labelled as commercial guidance rather than research. Each source below is named for the specific claim it supports.

• Egg range, weights, history, broodiness, temperament, climate, APA recognition: The Livestock Conservancy — New Hampshire Chicken. The source of the 200 to 220 figure and of the strain caveat this page is built around: “Production strains for rapid growth and better dressing do not have the egg production qualities of the standard dual purpose New Hampshire.” Also gives 8.5 lb males and 6.5 lb hens, “prone to go broody; make good mothers,” temperament as “Docile, or Competitive and Aggressive,” cold tolerance with the note that the breed “can do well in both cold and warm climates if housed appropriately,” admission to the APA Standard of Perfection in 1935, and the 2018 state-poultry designation. Note the Conservancy titles the breed “New Hampshire”; “New Hampshire Red” is the common name and the one this site uses.
• Conservation status — Threatened: The Livestock Conservancy — 2026 Conservation Priority Poultry Breeds lists New Hampshire as (T) Threatened, meaning fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the US and an estimated global population under 5,000. The 2024 list and the 2025 list carry the same classification, so this is a settled listing rather than a recent change. Wikipedia and several aggregator sites show “Watch,” citing a 2022 classification; that is outdated rather than a live disagreement. The Conservancy’s own breed page confusingly carries two fact boxes, one reading Threatened and one Watch — the Conservation Priority List is the authoritative document, and it says Threatened.
• Extension coverage of the breed — no egg figure in any of it: Mississippi State Extension — Choosing the Right Breed for Your Backyard Flock (P3036) says the breed was “developed more for meat than egg production,” gives 6.5 to 8.5 lb adults, and notes hens “are prone to go broody, and they make good mothers.” Poultry Extension — Selecting a Chicken Breed for Small or Backyard Poultry Flocks lists New Hampshire among the American dual-purpose breeds and names it as a brown-egg option. Penn State Extension — Management Requirements for Laying Flocks names the breed among dual-purpose birds commonly kept in small flocks and gives only general bands — 200 to 260 a year for commercial egg-type hens, 100 to 180 for purebreds. None of the three publishes a New Hampshire egg count.
• A university breed database, no egg figure: Oklahoma State University — New Hampshire Red Chickens rates the breed as having “fair egg laying ability” without a number, describes it as “selected more for meat production than egg production,” and states plainly that “New Hampshires are competitive and aggressive.” It is a compiled reference drawing on Skinner’s Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880) and Ekarius, not original research.
• Hatchery and retailer figures — commercial guidance, not research: Mile Four gives 200 to 260 eggs a year, 4 to 5 a week at peak, point of lay at 20 to 22 weeks, a 5 to 7 year life, two strong laying years, and broodiness as “moderate; many hens go broody and mother well” — it is the source for the age-at-first-lay and lifespan figures on this page, and it is a feed retailer. Cackle Hatchery gives 200 to 280, labelled “estimates only” on its own page, and matching 6.5 and 8.5 lb weights. Meyer Hatchery gives 170 to 200, the lowest count found, along with 5 lb hens and 7 lb roosters that disagree with every other source on weight. Lafeber gives about 180 eggs, a 5 to 8 year life, and “generally friendly; can be competitive around food.” Murray McMurray publishes no annual count, rating egg production “better,” broodiness “somewhat likely,” cold tolerance excellent, heat tolerance good, and 20 weeks to maturity — a maturity rating, not an age at first egg. Wikipedia, drawing on print breed references, gives approximately 220 eggs at about 55 g and says hens “sit well, and are good mothers.”
• Ours, not published: the Low and High scenarios, the month-by-month split, and the age and season multipliers. The Low of 180 is set to the Conservancy’s strain caveat and matched to the two lowest published counts — Lafeber’s ~180 exactly, and inside Meyer’s 170 to 200 — so it describes a growth-selected bird rather than a bad keeper. The High of 260 is the top of Mile Four’s range and sits inside Cackle’s; we did not use Cackle’s 280 ceiling, because Cackle labels its own range an estimate and no second source reaches that figure. The multipliers are our standard curve, applied site-wide rather than measured on this breed.

Two widely-circulated breed pages were checked and deliberately not used: one content-farm guide giving 200 to 280 with a padded citation list, and one site claiming 250 to 300, a figure no other source approaches. A third retailer page contradicted itself three times on the same page and was also set aside. For health concerns about your flock, consult a licensed poultry veterinarian.

Last reviewed August 2026.