Egg Laying with Truly Free Ranging Hens

[puss58]

The golf ball in the nest boxes is a good idea. It helped my girls understand where I wanted them to lay. I still get one or two eggs in the middle of the coop floor on occasion, but none in their outside pen or in the yard. Mine mostly lay in the afternoon or early evening. You'll just have to wait and see how your girls behave. The main thing is to enjoy them!

 

[Lisamairey]

Excellent idea with the golf balls! I'm rushing out the door en route to the coop this very second! Thanks so very much!

 

[mortie]

The golf balls probably helped mine too, but I doubt they would trump a nice spot under the deck. My girls are pretty devious.

 

[chickbrad24]

My older hens free range all day. They are coming to that laying age to I'm also nervous that I'm never going to find the eggs. Everyday when i come home i check all of their hang out spots but still no luck. They are going in the nest boxes. This afternoon i came home and the dummy eggs i put in the boxes were out of the box. So they are interested. They are also 5 months old and I'm still waiting for my 1st egg.

 

[barredrockin]

I free range our chickens. They had always laid their eggs in the nesting boxes from day. It was like they knew where to lay them. We open the coop at daybreak and close it up after dark most of the time due to our work schedule. We are getting an egg a day from our hens but once in a while we get a couple less but we are about to start moulting on some of our hens so that may be part of it. There is nothing like having friends and family come out from the city and we go out to coop and get the eggs for breakfast. They always ask a million questions. Enjoy the fresh eggs