Probally the strangest question ever.....but...??

[mmtillman]

When a hen is ''ready'' to lay her egg each day....does she just have to unload it right then and there...or can she 'hold it' for a while...like if she has to wait her turn, in the community nest box?? Does she feel like she is gonna explode if she cant get somewhere and lay right away?? Or....Will she just have to dump it where ever she happens to be when the urge strikes ?? ...or can she 'hold it' till the time and place are right??
I know this is a weird question .....NO one can really know how a hen feels when she is about to lay...but I wondered if it was like labor pains, in us women...and when it was ''time'' ...well...it was time to give birth...and nothing can stop it?? Just a weird question .......

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

First let me say... ROFL

Then let me say that I think they can hold it for a little while if they need to, but Im not a hen, so Im not 100% sure.

 

[SpringChickens]

I'm almost POSITIVE they can hold it for a while.

I usually let my hens out of their coop around 7:30 - 8am, so they can free range for the day. They immediately run out, to their respective hidden nests and lay their eggs within 10 minutes or so of being out.

Who uses a nest box when you can go under the cactus??

 

[columbiacritter]

They can hold it for a while if they prefered spots are occupied. One of my ducks practically crosses her legs and holds her breath until she's let out so she can run to her spot. If we're more than an hour late lettign them out she gives up and poops it anywhere instad of in the nest withthe rest of the ducks.