Does a chicken know when they lay a egg?

[sunflowerenvy]

Right now i will have to pen my chicken up due to we live in town. But i would like to have free range chickens when we move to a home. Will the ladies come back to coop to lays their eggs or would I have hunt for them.
laura

 

[canada-goose]

It depends on the hen's personality. Some are more maternal than others.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

They will usually come back to the coop to lay in the nesting boxes that you provide. You will need to keep them in the coop for many days...up to 10...without letting them out to free-range so they KNOW that the coop is safe and it is home.

Then, put a small light in the coop (just a night light will do) and they will make their way back to it in the late afternoon. Of course, calling them and giving them treats in their coop every evening is the best way to get them in!!

 

[Gonzo]

Ours sing the imfamous egg song when they're laying... they know...

 

[newchicksnducks]

I think they know when they're about to lay an egg (unless they are new layers or laying soft shelled eggs). I usually do not let my girls free range till after 3 or 4 pm. I've been getting 10-12 eggs from my 13 girls for the past week or so. Today I let them free range at noon....only had 6 eggs in the nest boxes! I guess I'll be egg hunting in the morning:/(They have been living in the coop for almost a year now, and if they are kept confined to the coop and run, they always use the boxes and never lay one in the run...This nice spring weather had them not wanting to return to the coop before they had too!

 

[teach1rusl]

If you confine them to the coop for at least a week before letting them out to range, they will typically go back to the coop to lay. They do need to have learned that the coop is "home."