How many days to complete clutch of eggs?

[Golden Brahma 64]

I checked again today... but still only just that one egg soo far, will there be more eggs coming or no? How many eggs do they usually lay, and how many more days should I wait until I try to incubate it? The hen's stomach/chest is more plump than usual...... is that a sign that there are more eggs in her?

An over bred hen will become stressed, treasure these eggs because in a few months she won’t lay any.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Do you understand how eggs are formed?
Maybe this will help you understand:

So....... do you think I will get more eggs or no?

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You guys think I should separate the hen from the rooster so she can just concentrate on laying her eggs and hopefully going broody?

 

[dotporter]

I fully understand your excitement. Unfortunately, sometimes that excitement is our undoing.

When my son was younger he was a habitual egg checker. Unfortunately, some birds do NOT like when someone knows where they laid an egg. We lost so many turkey nests because I couldn't convince him to stop hunting to see where the turkeys laid the eggs.

Instead of checking the nest, just watch her. She'll let you know if she's going to lay an egg. And, since she's a chicken, She Will lay an egg. Maybe not right away. Maybe she's still laying eggs but found somewhere else that you don't know about.

I always know when mine are laying because they get that "sneaky" look to them. Then a little while later you hear the egg song. When my hens get their feed in the morning, I sneak over to where I saw them go and peak in.

Since it's her first egg, it might take her a bit to settle in. Just be patient. Birds do what they were made to do. They lay eggs.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Is this a pullet that just started laying or a hen that you bought from someone? If she's a new layer those eggs are not ideal for trying to hatch, you'll want to give her some time before you try to set the eggs. What breed of chicken is she? Some breeds never or very rarely go brood. It really depends, do you have a rooster (1 year +) or a cockerel (less than a year)? Some roosters are a great help to a broody hen, and will help raise her clutch.

 

[dotporter]

Is this a pullet that just started laying or a hen that you bought from someone? If she's a new layer those eggs are not ideal for trying to hatch, you'll want to give her some time before you try to set the eggs. What breed of chicken is she? Some breeds never or very rarely go brood. It really depends, do you have a rooster (1 year +) or a cockerel (less than a year)? Some roosters are a great help to a broody hen, and will help raise her clutch.

He has one hen and one rooster, both a year old that he's had for a while. Both oriental game fowl.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

He has one hen and one rooster, both a year old that he's had for a while. Both oriental game fowl.

Yes, that is correct. There are now 2 eggs..... count e'm 2 eggs!

I separated them this morning hoping to give her a little peace of mind so that she can concentrate on doing her hen duties. Is that a good thing? And also, when do I start incubating them? Do I wait a few more days like up to 10 days for the eggs to collect and whatever there is in the nesting box I just go ahead and incubate them? She doesn't seem to show signs of going broody.

 

[dotporter]

Yes, that is correct. There are now 2 eggs..... count e'm 2 eggs!

I separated them this morning hoping to give her a little peace of mind so that she can concentrate on doing her hen duties. Is that a good thing? And also, when do I start incubating them? Do I wait a few more days like up to 10 days for the eggs to collect and whatever there is in the nesting box I just go ahead and incubate them? She doesn't seem to show signs of going broody.

She won't yet. When a chicken is laying eggs she will lay an egg and walk away. If she's going to sit them, she'll wait until she feels that she's laid enough and she'll sit on them.

Think of it this way: If she sat on the eggs as soon as she started laying and she laid ten eggs, her first egg would hatch ten days before her last egg hatched. She wants them all to hatch on the same day, so she'll wait until they are all laid.

 

[dotporter]

oh, and .... congratulations

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

She won't yet. When a chicken is laying eggs she will lay an egg and walk away. If she's going to sit them, she'll wait until she feels that she's laid enough and she'll sit on them.

Think of it this way: If she sat on the eggs as soon as she started laying and she laid ten eggs, her first egg would hatch ten days before her last egg hatched. She wants them all to hatch on the same day, so she'll wait until they are all laid.

Yeah, that's what I kinda figure........ but how many days should I wait to see if she sets on her eggs? If she doesn't by day 10 or whatever of the first egg, do I just gather whatever is in there and incubate it myself? I just want to know how many days I have to play with before the eggs loses it's fertility, I don't want to wait too long but then again I don't want to collect them early to incubate only to find out there's actually more eggs being deposited. You get where I'm going at?

And thank you!