Laying Time?

[HenOrRoo1]

Most everything I read says that hens lay from early to mid-morning and not to expect eggs after that. While I do collect eggs at this time of day often, I also often find eggs in the afternoon and sometimes early evening. I check the brooder boxes multiple times a day, so it's not that I find them at these times because I haven't looked earlier. I just think it's an interesting quirk. Anyone else have this experience with their ladies?

 

[orpington13]

I do all the time.

 

[chickens really]

Very normal.....Hens lay in the afternoon too....

 

[aart]

They can lay later in the day too....each bird is different.

It takes about 25 hours for an egg to form, a new ova is released shortly after an egg is laid.
A new egg could be laid approximately every 25-26 hours, so an hour or so later every day until one is laid late in the day and another ova might not be released until the following day, so a day off. BUT..very hen is different and only time will tell what a particular hen/pullets schedule might be. Not every hen/pullet lays every day..some only lay a few a week.

 

[HenOrRoo1]

Good to know it's not just me. I thought it seemed strange that with a 25 hour cycle for laying (on average) hens would only lay in the morning hours. I had a hard time picturing a hen, ready to lay an egg, holding it in and telling herself, "Nope! Hold it in! Wait for tomorrow morning!" Haha!

 

[Peeps61]

Yes - I collect before noon and will often have several more eggs in the nest when I get home in the evening after work.

 

[HenOrRoo1]

I love those productive days!

 

[Peeps61]

Me too!

 

[9d84runner]

I have 3 chickens out of 5 laying and they seem to be early afternoon/late evening layers. 2 lay around 10am and the other lays around 3 or 4pm... Sometimes they will lay late, than early the next morning. I always thought chickens lay in the morning but mine sort of lay whenever they want I guess.