Can I take the first egg, or should I leave it?

[Gardenlady2]

Got our first egg yesterday, and a second today!! They are in two separate nest boxes.
Can I take them out right away? Or should I leave them for a few days? Just wondering if taking them right away would discourage the hens from laying in the boxes.

 

[sourland]

You might want to put golf balls or make believe 'nest eggs' in the nest boxes. Congratulations on the onset of egg laying.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Go ahead and take them. Some people put a fake egg or a golf ball to help their chickens lay in the nest boxes, but your pullets did not have any problem figuring out where to lay them. I even take the eggs right out from under a laying hen sometimes, and she doesn't seem too offended.