How many eggs should I be getting?

[UrbanEnthusiast]

I have 7 laying hens almost 6 months old - 4 brown Leghorn, 1 EE, 1 Ancona, and 1 Blue Hamburg. I free range them all day every day, and I'm only averaging 2-3 eggs a day in my nest boxes. Is that normal for this time of year, or are they laying off in the brush where I can't find the eggs? One day I did get 7 eggs, so I'm pretty sure they're all laying. I've tried confining them a couple times and only got 2-4 or something like that.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How old are they?

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Almost six months. One day I did get seven eggs, so I think they're all laying.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your leghorns and Ancona should lay either everyday or every other day. Your EE might be more sporadic and I'm unfamiliar with how Hamburg lay. There is seasonal up and downs to laying, so it's possible they aren't laying at full potential yet, that will happen next spring.

Hens can be sneaky sometimes so it is certainly possible they have another nest somewhere. Most hens won't lay out in the grass without there being some sort of cover, so you should probably have a good look around and maybe keep your eye on them throughout the day to see if you notice anyone coming from somewhere that's not your coop cackling the egg song.

Otherwise they do need a few weeks to become regular as far as laying.

 

[aart]

I have 7 laying hens almost 6 months old - 4 brown Leghorn, 1 EE, 1 Ancona, and 1 Blue Hamburg. I free range them all day every day, and I'm only averaging 2-3 eggs a day in my nest boxes. Is that normal for this time of year, or are they laying off in the brush where I can't find the eggs? One day I did get 7 eggs, so I'm pretty sure they're all laying. I've tried confining them a couple times and only got 2-4 or something like that.

How long did you confine them?

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days(or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.