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Do hens lay their eggs before a certain time of the day?

post #1 of 42
6/13/08 at 5:36pm
Thread Starter 

I understand they don't lay at night???  So do they do it early morning?  I'm just curious because  I'm not going to let them free range all day long until I'm sure they will use their nest box for egg laying.  One more thing, should they start laying at about 6months old?

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post #2 of 42
6/13/08 at 5:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by holliewould 

I understand they don't lay at night???  So do they do it early morning?  I'm just curious because  I'm not going to let them free range all day long until I'm sure they will use their nest box for egg laying.  One more thing, should they start laying at about 6months old?


HOW  old  are  your chickens ?   the  more excerise  the   better , 

Turn  them  loose  early  in the  morning when you  go  feed and water them  ,  TRUST  ME ,  when they  ready to lay  they  will  return into the nesting area ,  DROP  the  egg and  go back  out into the  run.      Mine  lay  at  different  times  ,  I  usually  get a couple of eggs  in the  morning and  the  rest  late afternoon .   JUST  turn them   LOOSE into the RUN AREA  and   leave  the   coop open  for them  to  go  and lay .  Depending on the  breed ,  SOME chickens  start   laying  as  early  as  4 months  and  some  are  5  or 6  months  old .   

HOW  many  chickens  do you have  ?  and   WHAT SIZE COOP  AND  RUN ?

Thanks : 

  Liz
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Thanks : 

  Liz
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post #3 of 42
6/13/08 at 5:46pm

They don't always come back home to lay in the boxes though.  I have found eggs in the run, in the coop not in a box, under my car, and I'm sure there are more I haven't found.  I was letting the hens out first thing in the morning but have started keeping them in until around noon.  They seem to have finished laying by noon although I have found eggs in the late afternoon.

You might not be able to keep a bird from landing on your head but you can keep it from building a nest.

"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."
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You might not be able to keep a bird from landing on your head but you can keep it from building a nest.

"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."
Reply
post #4 of 42
6/13/08 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dacjohns 

They don't always come back home to lay in the boxes though.  I have found eggs in the run, in the coop not in a box, under my car, and I'm sure there are more I haven't found.  I was letting the hens out first thing in the morning but have started keeping them in until around noon.  They seem to have finished laying by noon although I have found eggs in the late afternoon.


MY  RUN  is  enclosed  so they can NOT  get  out of the  run area   ,  BUT  they can  go into the section of the  coop  to  lay .  I will NOT  confine  them  into  a HOT COOPED  UP  AREA  until they  decide to  LAY .   


Mine are  released  as early as possible  .   THEY  NEVER LAY  same time  everyday  .

Thanks : 

  Liz
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Thanks : 

  Liz
Reply
post #5 of 42
6/13/08 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 

I only have 2 RIRs so far.  They are about 13 weeks old.  I know what yer thinking "get more chickens dummy"...I'm getting 3 more RIRs at the end of the month.  Woohoo.  They free range all day and I coop them in at night only.  Because of their size they don't have any predators down here.  I'm just scared that when they go to lay they won't do it in their nest box.  My coop is about 6ft by 5ft and about 5ft high.   So how about RIRs?  What age do they typically start laying?  Are their eggs large or xtra large?

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post #6 of 42
6/13/08 at 6:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cajunlizz 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dacjohns 

They don't always come back home to lay in the boxes though.  I have found eggs in the run, in the coop not in a box, under my car, and I'm sure there are more I haven't found.  I was letting the hens out first thing in the morning but have started keeping them in until around noon.  They seem to have finished laying by noon although I have found eggs in the late afternoon.


MY  RUN  is  enclosed  so they can NOT  get  out of the  run area   ,  BUT  they can  go into the section of the  coop  to  lay .  I will NOT  confine  them  into  a HOT COOPED  UP  AREA  until they  decide to  LAY .   


Mine are  released  as early as possible  .   THEY  NEVER LAY  same time  everyday  .


?????

You might not be able to keep a bird from landing on your head but you can keep it from building a nest.

"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."
Reply
You might not be able to keep a bird from landing on your head but you can keep it from building a nest.

"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."
Reply
post #7 of 42
6/13/08 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dacjohns 

under my car


Ahahaha!

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post #8 of 42
6/13/08 at 8:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by holliewould 

I only have 2 RIRs so far.  They are about 13 weeks old.  I know what yer thinking "get more chickens dummy"...I'm getting 3 more RIRs at the end of the month.  Woohoo.  They free range all day and I coop them in at night only.  Because of their size they don't have any predators down here.  I'm just scared that when they go to lay they won't do it in their nest box.  My coop is about 6ft by 5ft and about 5ft high.   So how about RIRs?  What age do they typically start laying?  Are their eggs large or xtra large?


Where are you that your chickens don't have any predators?

The age when they start laying is generally around 4 to 6 months.

My RIR lays pretty big eggs, I guess you could call them extra large.

You might not be able to keep a bird from landing on your head but you can keep it from building a nest.

"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."
Reply
You might not be able to keep a bird from landing on your head but you can keep it from building a nest.

"My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."
Reply
post #9 of 42
6/15/08 at 4:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dacjohns 

Where are you that your chickens don't have any predators?


In the Keys.  They run wild here.  Some of them might get ran over though I suppose.  We have some bald eagles but they stay away from the neighborhoods.  Other then that, nothing.  The raccoons and possums don't seem to give a crap.  They eat the cat food and bananas.  smile  My dog likes the chickens and the cats are scared of the chickens especially when they flap their wings. 


Oh man oh man Xtra large?  Woohooo!

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post #10 of 42
6/15/08 at 4:48pm

little  news flash  : 


   when they 1st. start laying the eggs are alot smaller than if they were  say  a yr. old .  and  I have  3  FULL  SIZE  HENS  RIR's  that are maybe  a  8  or 9 months  old  and they never lay the same size  eggs  . MAYBE when they are older  the eggs will be larger .  I  sure hope so . 

BUT they are nice and BROWN . and  I  give them laying pellets  EVERYDAY .....   I  give  a little bread ,   RICE,  and  snacks  ,  BUT  ALWAYS  PELLETS   EVERYDAY .   and   PLENTY  PLENTY  OF  WATER ....  and   dont forget the GRIT

Thanks : 

  Liz
Reply
Thanks : 

  Liz
Reply
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Do hens lay their eggs before a certain time of the day?