Newbie question about happy hens

[DaisyMaeDimples]

I get fresh eggs from the feed store and saw a green egg and now I'm fascinated and can't wait to have some hens...as pets who just happen to give me eggs. I'm reading a lot on here and am learning so much but I have a question.

How do the hens react when you take their eggs? Are they upset?

That may sound silly to some but I am asking in all sincerity. My goal is to make a home for some chickens and keep them as happy as possible.

Thanks.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Some birds are a little more defensive of the nest than others. Generally speaking they aren't upset at you taking the eggs but rather at being disturbed while on the nest.
An angry hen may growl at you or peck at your hand as you reach into the nest to gather the eggs a simple solution is just to push through her bluff and take the eggs anyway, wait until she has left the nest, or where protective gear.

 

[dunnmom]

My hens seemed to resent me taking their eggs at first. Some even tried to hide eggs from me. They got used to it, although they still stare at me while I'm collecting eggs. I don't take eggs out from under a laying hen. I try to wait until they finish.

 

[CannedMonster]

I only have 4 layers right now. They don’t care in the least.
They don’t like being disturbed when they’re trying to lay but it’s hard not to when they all lay in the same box!
I just move slowly and talk softly and come back later when she’s done.

 

[DaisyMaeDimples]

My hens seemed to resent me taking their eggs at first. Some even tried to hide eggs from me. They got used to it, although they still stare at me while I'm collecting eggs. I don't take eggs out from under a laying hen. I try to wait until they finish.

Such characters! I tried to imagine being stared down by a hen in a nest and, well, thanks for the giggle.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I can't say mine care at all, unless they're broody. I do leave fake eggs in the box all the time, so if the hens look in the nest box there's still something there and they're satisfied with that. One of mine did get extremely upset if I took out the fakes but didn't care that I took her eggs.

 

[dunnmom]

Such characters! I tried to imagine being stared down by a hen in a nest and, well, thanks for the giggle.

Bringing a treat at collection time helps their attitude, and can sometimes help evacuate the nest boxes, so long as they aren't in the middle of passing an egg.

 

[PirateGirl]

I try to take the eggs when they are all outside. Once they realize I've opened the egg door though they come running up the ramp to see what I'm doing. Sometimes they get noisy about it for a few minutes, but they don't really seem too bothered.

 

[Maddiejayne]

My hens (they're about 9 months old, laying for 4 months now) don't stay on the nest all day. As a matter of fact, they lay their eggs in the morning and then leave the coop most of the day. During that time I go in and grab the eggs. Every now and then there is a hen still in a nesting box, she'll growl at me, but I just leave her to do her thing and check later. Since my chickens spend most of the day out of the coop, I've never had a problem collecting eggs, therefore they don't really register that I'm doing anything out of the ordinary. Ive also never let them sit on a collection of eggs longer than 2 days.

 

[featherhead007]

3 times I have been petting a laying hen, only to catch the egg in my hand, still wet and warm! Now that's a fresh egg!!