If there is a hen in the nest box, I leave her alone. If I happen to startle one and they leave the nest, they usualy come back. Their body is telling them they need to lay an egg and they know you, so they should come back. I don't check multiple times per day anymore. Gets old walking up and down my little hill that many times.Question for those of you who have done this chicken thing long enough that you aren't checking for eggs 10 times a day
Do you check for eggs any time you feel like it, even if there's a hen in the nest boxes, or do you wait until they're all empty so you don't disturb them? Sometimes when I go out there there's hens in the nest boxes and most of the time I leave them alone; I guess I'm afraid of scaring them out of the box and missing out on an egg for the day. Will they just come back if they're ticked off that I disturbed them?
I check later in the afternoon and sometimes after they have gone to roost. If it is during the work week, I check when I get home, and as it gets darker earlier, that is after they have gone to bed.
Don't worry, you won't scare them from laying, they know and recognize you. Check as much as you want!
