Egg laying behavior

[gridgeway66]

Was just curious. How often should I gather the eggs from the nesting boxes ? Right now we have 3 or 4 chickens that are laying but they all dont lay everyday for some reason and I haven't figured that part out. Thanks

 

[runnermom]

twice a day is recommended. I check in the morning, and then again in the evening.

 

[azygous]

It's up to you to decide. But the longer you wait to collect eggs after the hens deposit them, the greater the risks are of damage. Too many eggs accumulating in a nest increases the likelihood of breakage as a hen gets on and off the pile and deposits her own egg.

It also increases the risk that a hen might be tempted to break into the eggs and become an egg eater. Once a hen adopts this habit, it's very hard to break.

Most of us collect eggs each day. I collect several times a day because I've seen my share of breakage when I let them accumulate.

 

[gridgeway66]

It's up to you to decide. But the longer you wait to collect eggs after the hens deposit them, the greater the risks are of damage. Too many eggs accumulating in a nest increases the likelihood of breakage as a hen gets on and off the pile and deposits her own egg.

It also increases the risk that a hen might be tempted to break into the eggs and become an egg eater. Once a hen adopts this habit, it's very hard to break.

Most of us collect eggs each day. I collect several times a day because I've seen my share of breakage when I let them accumulate.

I normally get what's there everyday I was just curious if it hurt to wait till the next day. Thanks. Do you have any idea why some days I have 2 or 3 and the next day only have 1 ?

 

[aart]

Do you have any idea why some days I have 2 or 3 and the next day only have 1 ?

Not all birds lay every day.
What breeds do you have?

I too collect frequently, at least every evening when I lock up, I replace each gathered egg with a fake egg or golf ball....more to keep them cleaner than anything else. Tho when new pullets start laying to keep an eye on things and gather any thin or soft shelled egg before they get broken.

 

[apryl29]

My chickens are at my parent's house so I usually only collect once a day, in the evening when I go over to feed & water them. On the weekends when I go over earlier in the day I check when I get there and everyone isn't usually finished until early afternoon. We have several nesting boxes, the only broken eggs we've had were b/c someone keeps scratching all the bedding out of the boxes.

 

[gridgeway66]

Not all birds lay every day.
What breeds do you have?

I too collect frequently, at least every evening when I lock up, I replace each gathered egg with a fake egg or golf ball....more to keep them cleaner than anything else. Tho when new pullets start laying to keep an eye on things and gather any thin or soft shelled egg before they get broken.

I have several buffs 2 red sex links and a delaware that should all be laying

 

[josh117]

the only broken eggs we've had were b/c someone keeps scratching all the bedding out of the boxes

I'm having the same problem: some eggs get cracked when laid on the bare plywood. I have 4" of shavings on top of a layer of sand, but they insist on scratching a nest down to the wood. Should I lay some carpet down? (Kidding.... sort of.)

 

[apryl29]

I'm having the same problem: some eggs get cracked when laid on the bare plywood. I have 4" of shavings on top of a layer of sand, but they insist on scratching a nest down to the wood. Should I lay some carpet down? (Kidding.... sort of.)

In another post someone suggested folding up an old feed bag and lining the bottom of the box. It sounded like a good idea, I just haven't done it yet.

 

[Krisabelle]

We had the same problem with our girls pulling all of the straw out of the boxes. My husband found nesting pads on Amazon (10 pk) they fit like a glove and now we do not have anymore broken eggs.
We placed loose straw on top so they have something to scratch and move around.