How many and how often?

[MomOf15]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before.
My one BR finally laid her first egg Saturday, but there's been no more since. So how often do they lay eggs once the start? She only laid one...will this be normal for her or will she gradually start laying more? And lastly, do they always lay first thing in the morning?

 

[joedie]

She'll gradually start laying more often. It didn't take mine long at all. Mine will lay anywhere between 8 am and 7 pm but most are done by 2 pm. Their cycle is around every 26-28 hours I think so eventually they lay later and later in the day until they are back to morning again.
They usually don't lay at night.

 

[MomOf15]

Okay, I thought it was a gradual process. I'm sure after that first egg they aren't real excited about the whole experience happening again - lol!!!

I asked because when the weather is nice we let them out in the morning to free-range through the day and I'm not real big on egg hunts

 

[joedie]

I just noted where you're from. I used to live in Greenville. If I remember, that's Mercer County isn't it?

 

[MomOf15]

Yep and that's exactly where I live

 

[ging3rhoffman]

I didnt want to hunt for eggs either so i dont let my girls out to play until after 6pm then they come back in on their own just before dark. I feed them scraps during the day and throw them some scratch when they are in their coop and run to keep them busy and happy.

 

[MomOf15]

Yes, my girls are very good about going in for the night...makes life so much easier.

 

[MomOf15]

So another question I have...how long can the egg sit and still be good before it's refrigerated? In other words, if my chicken lays an egg at 10 am and I don't get home til 3 pm...is it still going to be okay to eat?

 

[chickinlickin]

Thanks for the good questions MomOf5.....

.... Got my first egg yesterday and am interested too.

 

[MomOf15]

Sure. I'm very excited about all this, but completely clueless