Do chickens ever lay their eggs around 6:30 PM in winter?

[lillypurrs23]

My chicken had her first egg last night at about 6:30. PM. Is that normal? Especially when it's winter, because it's dark outside, but they were in the coop.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yes, it is normal. When they first begin, they can even drop them while on the roost at night, unknown to them, it seems. The pullet egg starts so small, they likely don't quite understand anything happened.

They get regular as they get a little older.

 

[lillypurrs23]

Yeah, we found it under their roost, and it was small. Cute, though!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, the first few eggs can surprise them. Once they get into a routine, they usually won't lay that late. If mine don't lay by 4:30 then they wait until the next day.

 

[lillypurrs23]

Hmm. It seemed like she knew that she was going to have one. She was making a nest in the nesting box about an hour and a half before. She was laying in it for a while, but I guess she decided to leave it, and out came the egg. xD

 

[claud]

Normal.
When mine start up in the spring I often find an egg or two under the roost.
I mean, what's a hen to do? It's dark, you can't see, and the baby's coming! LOL!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, my new layers will pace back and forth to the nest box, but I have still had eggs laid in the run, under the hanging feeder and in corners of the coop. It's like having a baby, you know it's coming but not sure exactly when.

 

[aduplantis]

At least 1 of my hens has been laying later in the afternoon since it has gotten cooler here.

 

[lillypurrs23]

Well, she would of been able to see because of our lamp in there.

 

[Chick named Lola]

Mine are laying until about 4:30 as well...new layers...It will be nice when they get more regular...