Chickens lay eggs up to 3 years without a light in the winter they slow down, but I have a few birds that lay year round. Bardrocks are the best layers that I have found after trying alot of different birds. Laying hens are chicken soup after a couple years and new chicks take there place , now is the time to get chicks if your thinking of getting started Andy they take 6 to 9 months to start laying and their really isn't nothing like going out to the chicken coup in the morning and cooking breakfast. We usually keep 6 birds in a rotation getting 3 new chiks every 2 years and I havent bought a egg in 10 years!!!PEACE