Egg ratio to Hens

[calvineagle77]

I have 12 hens, they are about 6 months old and have been laying for 3 weeks. I am only getting 5 eggs per day though. Over time will their rate increase?

 

[ranchhand]

They don't necessarily all start laying at the same time, so be patient. Sure is fun getting eggs though!

Another thing to check is for hidden nests- I found about 20 eggs under my front porch once.

!

 

[alicefelldown]

Short answer? Yes. Keep in mind though that the laying rate depends on the breed. Some breeds lay more than others.

In the most common of breeds (leghorns, red stars, etc) (the ones that have been commercially breed to lay more eggs) it takes about 24 hours for an egg to form inside the hen.

Some breeds take longer for the egg to make that 'journey' from yolk sac on the ovaries to fully formed egg.

 

[calvineagle77]

Ok, thank you! But they are not free range so I don't think there are any hidden nest.

 

[alicefelldown]

Quote:
Do your birds go outside in the sun, eat grass and bugs, frolic and live happy lives? Do they have a run? If yes - then you are more "free range" than the grocery store eggs!

There are no USDA/Federal regulations on the terms Free Range or Cage Free for egg production - as there are for meat. BUT - for meat production, the regulations only stipulate that the door needs to be open for at least five minutes a day and the farm will qualify as free-range!! Apart from the 'open door', no other criteria such as environmental quality, number of birds, or space per bird, are included in the term free-range.

Most of the chickens we raise here on BYC technically count as "Pastured" - the hens go outside in the sun, eat grass, veggies, and insects in addition to their grains.

Quote:
Check out all over your run and coop - hens can be pretty crafty and hide nests in corners, under nest boxes, even piles of litter on the floor. Heck, I've found eggs sitting in the middle of the feed dishes before - although I wouldn't count that one as 'crafty' though!

Also,

 

[calvineagle77]

They are out all day in a big coop so I guess they are.

 

[calvineagle77]

They are out all day in a big coop so I guess they are.

 

[alicefelldown]

I don't know if you plan on selling eating eggs Calvineagle77 - but I've found that informing the consumer about the differences between "free range" grocery store eggs and my actual pastured eggs can really make a huge difference in sales. Most consumers I've found, tend to believe the pictures on the cartons of happy pastured birds in the grass with flowers and sunshine are accurate - you should see their faces when we start talking about the difference in living conditions!!

Modern Marvels had an egg episode that also confirmed these standards - and any amount of research will confirm the regulations. Sure, some producers are probably a bit "nicer" to their birds and don't overcrowd as much - but footage of actual plant walk-throughs of "free range" birds shows them living in the same dark, dank barn that the battery caged hens are in - including Eggland's Best or Trader Joe's!

Technically speaking, it is a huge financial liability to the large producers to let their hens roam outside. Predators, disease, even lost eggs or birds can all affect the bottom line.

After making some changes to my flyers and online ads, I'm sold out of eating eggs about 90% of the time with a waiting list 2-3 deep.

 

[calvineagle77]

Thank you for all that information. I am selling them, but just to a local co-op.