How long does it take for the egg to be laid?

[EllieandOlive]

My hens seem to spend about 1-2 hours each on the shared nest box before they jump out and leave an egg behind. I will check after and hour and they don't have one laid yet. Is that typical? Are there some hens that spend only a couple minutes in the nest and are finished?

 

[cherrynberry]

Typical, they like to sit in the nest for awhile afterwards as well. Do you get soft eggs? Thats the only thing I would watch for.

 

[Sally PB]

One of my girls is a "lounger." She will take 2 hours to lay her egg. Or else she lays it and just want to sit.

Maybe she has a good book hidden away in there?

 

[EllieandOlive]

Typical, they like to sit in the nest for awhile afterwards as well. Do you get soft eggs? Thats the only thing I would watch for.

Never had a soft egg before.

One of my girls is a "lounger." She will take 2 hours to lay her egg. Or else she lays it and just want to sit.

Maybe she has a good book hidden away in there?

She must have a full series of books

 

[EllieandOlive]

Typical, they like to sit in the nest for awhile afterwards as well. Do you get soft eggs? Thats the only thing I would watch for.

Never had a soft or mottled egg out of any if them before. They free range daily

 

[cherrynberry]

Never had a soft or mottled egg out of any if them before. They free range daily

Thats normal then.

As a plus...you do know thay free ranging doesnt really prevent soft eggs entirely, right? Its part of new layers, and their glitches.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Some lay very quickly (I've seen birds run in, sit down, pop out and egg, and head right back outside) and some just hang out for hours. Most layers that aren't completely brand new fall somewhere in the middle, 30-60 minutes.

 

[Sally PB]

She must have a full series of books

The complete works of Shakespeare, I believe...