Laying again after chicks

How long does it take a hen to start laying again after she hatchs chicks. It is something that occurred to me today, and I have no idea  Do they just look after the chicks and not bother about laying, or do they start to lay again fairly soon. I'm not worried either way, but thought I ought to have some idea of what to expect!

My light sussex started laying when her chicks were 5 wks old, but dont know if thats the average or not. From then on i let them all out in the garden together with the other girls every day with no probs and after a couple of days they all went into the main coop at night, again with no probs.