free range and finding eggs

[Turkeyrun]

Hi,

I would like to let our 15 hens free range all day this summer but am wondering about where the eggs will end up. Occasionally there is an egg in the nest boxes when I go out in the morning but usually all the eggs are waiting when I get home from work. If I let the Ladies free range are they likely to go back to the coop to lay eggs or will I spend my evenings looking for eggs?

Thank you,

 

[bordergurl]

My 10 girls all free range. They always go back to the coop to lay except for one BSL, who lays in the duck pen!

 

[gryeyes]

The hens will generally return to the coop to lay their eggs, but now and then there might be one that finds a nifty place to hide 'em. If it becomes a problem, lock 'em in the coop or run again for a while, so they have to lay their eggs where they are supposed to, and then let them out again.

That is, if you dislike the Easter Egg hunts.

 

[geepy]

Me I love EE hunts. But mostly they go back to the coop. There was one time I heard peeping in the bushes, Yep 10 biddies. Still not sure how I missed her.

 

[Judy]

Mine have free ranged for a couple of years. Only once did I find a stash of eggs outside the coop. When they slowed down last fall, I locked them in their yard for a couple of days to be sure they weren't laying elsewhere, then searched the yard thoroughly. They weren't.

 

[donrae]

Keep an eye on your production, if it drops suddenly, go on an egg hunt. Mine prefer to lay in the same place over and over, it's just that sometimes that same place changes! I have found nests of almost two dozen eggs and wanted to kick myself. If they're already laying in the coop, they'll probably return.

 

[Illia]

I have over 50 hens who are free ranged, and even if they've never spent time over to even look at the nesting room, they all know where it is and what it's for when the time comes.

Yes, I occasionally get eggs out in the pasture or in a barn or under their perches, but they aren't too often and only because the pullet is trying to adjust and figure out her cycle

 

[HHandbasket]

I have a small flock of 6 hens that free-ranges. They all go into the nesting boxes to lay their eggs, then come out and announce it to everybody.

Until this week, all 6 girls were using the same nest, but the barred rock finally decided to use one of the other nesting areas I set up for them in another part of the coop. But (knock on wood) I have not found eggs or mystery nests hidden in any obscure parts of the yard. My yard isn't really HUGE, nor is my flock.

I do have a BYC friend who has a large mixed flock in her yard and finds mystery nests from time to time, but they're a pleasant surprise more often than not.

 

[kandooshe]

Chickens lay eggs in the place they want,try to keep them in the coop some days and then let them out ,,

 

[RainbowBirds_of_a_Feather]

Aloha,

I have had feral game hens and it would be a Russian roulette at times for eggs. Especially when the roos helps them with the nesting!

But I guess it depends on the type of bird and how they are first acclimated to nesting. But free range is a great idea. Just have to maintain the areas that they may lay out of the coop incase you see less eggs in the nest boxes. Then re-coop them for their insubordination of egg location. Just until they get back on track. Then let them back out. It is like training, sometimes the chooks need retraining to nest in the correct areas. But if it becomes too frequent, that they lay in hidden nests, then you may want to ground them for a longer period of time.

Just to make it clear to them "Lay in nest boxes only."