Advice on frequncy of egg collection.

[Seachicks01]

How often does everyone collect eggs and does collecting eggs more often result in more eggs being produced?

 

[Bruberi]

I collect mine three times in the morning as that's when my girls lay. Sadly doesn't increase daily rate but does stop my broody ladies from deciding to sit

 

[aart]

Collecting often does not increase production .....nor will it deter a serious broody hen.

I collect once a day when the weather is good, when I close up the pop door at dusk.
In winter I collect more often to avoid cracked eggs from freezing.
If I'm collecting for hatching when it's still really cold, I go out every hour.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree. Collecting them more often will not cause them to lay any more or any less. There is a lot of discussion and debate on whether letting the eggs pile up affects if a hen goes broody. My opinion is that letting the eggs pile up will not cause a hen to go broody, collecting them often will not prevent a hen from going broody, but if a hen is thinking about going broody letting them pile up may help her make up her mind. I use fake eggs (golf balls) for that.

I’m retired and around a lot. I collect them whenever I’m down there. That may be once a day when I lock them up at night or it may be several times a day. But I do make sure they are collected at least once a day. I don’t like to leave eggs in the nest overnight. I think that can attract snakes and maybe rats. Mine are securely locked up at night so I don’t worry about the eggs attracting possums and skunks.

Even if you have a hen go broody and you have a rooster with the flock to fertilize the eggs, as long as you collect them once a day they are good to eat, even if they have been under a broody all day. If you don’t collect them daily and they are under a broody overnight, you can get a surprise when you open them.

 

[RonP]

I make a habit of visiting 2x a day.

~8am, and 8pm.