What Should I Expect Once Chickens Start Laying?

[ajay18]

Does the typical chicken lay one to two eggs a day? Will they hide them away in random places? And also, how often would you say first time mothers see their eggs through to hatching? Do chickens behave any differently if the egg is fertilized or unfertilized? Will they try to hatch anything? Will it upset them when I take their eggs? Will the other chickens harass the nest?

Sorry for the laundry list, I feel like an inquisitive toddler. Any answers to any of the questions are super appriciated.

 

[junebuggena]

The typical time that it takes a chicken to produce an egg is about 22 to 30 hours. That translates into one egg a day. They will lay a bit later everyday until it's a bit too late in the day, then they'll skip a day to reset the cycle. Pullets that have just started laying can sometimes lay two eggs in a day. If you free range, you will want to keep them confined to the coop and run area until they start using the nest boxes most of the time. That can take a few weeks for them to figure out. Eggs without shells and eggs laid at random times or while they are roosting are also common things for first time layers. They also might not start producing regularly for a few weeks. It's not uncommon for a pullet to lay her first egg and then go over a week without laying anything. Chickens don't know if their eggs are fertile or not. They will only try to hatch if they go broody. Whether or not a hen goes broody depends on hormones. There is nothing else that can trigger broodiness. A non broody hen will lay an egg and then go off about her business the rest of the day. She won't even notice you collecting eggs. Don't interrupt a hen on the nest. Leave her be until she's finished laying. Most of the time a flock will pick a favorite nest to lay in. Often, if some of the hens need to lay at the same time of day, a line will form. Pullets start out laying small eggs that will gradually increase in size. They will also lay bigger eggs each year after each molt. Some hens may never lay eggs that are as big as grocery store eggs though. There is no need to wash fresh eggs. They are laid with their on antibacterial coating called bloom. Unless an egg is very dirty, just brush it off gently. If you do absolutely need to wash your eggs, use warm water and refrigerate and use promptly. You don't have to refrigerate fresh eggs either. They stay fresh at room temp for about 3 weeks. If you do refrigerate, be very careful not to leave them out. The condensation from the eggs coming to room temp will wash the bloom off, leaving them exposed to bacteria. Fertile eggs will not hatch unless they are incubated. They must be kept at about 100 degrees for several days for development to begin. Eggs left at room temp will not spontaneously hatch into chicks. Fertile eggs are exactly the same as infertile eggs, unless they are incubated, of course.
Did I cover everything?

 

[ajay18]

Wow!! Yes, very helpful. What took me by surprise the most was the "bloom." I only buy eggs from local farmers at the fruit farms in the next town over. They just come from locals, a dozen eggs in a basket, usually with beautiful character. But the fact that condesation washes off the bacterial safe guard? Yikes! I suppose suppliers of store bought eggs take other measures to ensure safety of consumtion, but I usually like to start my shopping my picking up these eggs, so they are at room temp (or more) in my car with me for a while. Huh, time to switch that stop to last I guess.

When a hen goes broody, should I just let her try and hatch, even if I'd rather have breakfast than more babies?

 

[junebuggena]

Store bought eggs never leave refrigeration. They are refrigerated within hours of being laid, are put through several chlorine rinses (washing off the bloom) and sent to stores in refrigerated trucks. You actually have better odds of getting sick off store bought eggs, then fresh, never washed eggs. If the eggs are room temp when you buy them, they probably weren't ever refrigerated to begin with. When buying eggs from a local farmer or at a farmers market, it's important to know how they handle their eggs and if they wash them at all. And they should let you know how to properly store their product to ensure safety.
If a hen does go broody, you do not have to let her hatch. If you don't have a rooster around to fertilize the eggs, there's nothing for her to hatch any ways. To break a broody hen, many people have had good results from putting her in a completely wire cage, elevated of the floor a few feet with food and water. After a few days of air circulating completely around her, she snaps out of it. Some broodies can be very stubborn and seem to make careers out of constantly going broody. The whole brooding process is hard on a hen physically, though.