How often can I expect egg-laying animals to lay eggs?

Normal egg-layers lay eggs roughly once per season.

However, and this is the point you're having problems with:

War animals never lay eggs; or, if they are not egglayers, never breed.

I've never had occasion to find out if animals find a nest box while on a chain, but I suppose they should.

But again; captured war animals will not breed.

Ever.