What time do chickens lay eggs??

[bamadude]

I bout a bag of 4 wooden eggs from hobby lobby for a few dollars. Mine kept kicking the golf balls out. Not sure if its because mine lay brown eggs or what. The wooden eggs worked great for me.

 

[Cherie1n2]

My RIR hens share a nesting box inside there coop which is literally just for nighttime protection.. they swap off every day and usually lay between 10-3.. when they first started laying last November (I'm in sc ) I thought I was only getting about 4 eggs each per week.. but they simply had an alternate nest in the treeline (19 almost all rotten eggs when I found it)

It takes about 25 hours for an egg to develop but that doesn't mean the hen has to lay right then.. she needs to feel comfortable.. and that will vary bird to bird. You're doing the right thing putting out a "go to" box.. and soon enough you'll know your girl

 

[Americano Blue]

mine chickens lay between 11am and 2pm. but mine don't lay when its raining or really windy.

 

[delder2009]

Can anyone tell me if there's kinda a certain time chickens lay eggs.. like at dawn or something?? Sorry to be SO dumb but I've never had chickens before and my two girls are 19 wks and getting close I think. I ask this BECAUSE our coop in inside our screened lanai. I physically take them out to the enclosed area in our backyard every morning about 8:00 and bring them back in about 2:00 when it starts to get too hot (we're in Florida!). My concern is that they'll start laying eggs in the grass instead of in their nest in the coop?? Outside they DO have a little house to get in for protection from aerial predators, however we left it without a floor and put it where it's half grass and half sand so they can be safe, yet also peck and sand bathe!! Can anyone tell me what they think about this situation?? They have an awesome private two nests in their coop that I'd SO love them to utilize!! Thanks!!

one of my hens lay around 3:30 to 4pm the other lays around 8:30 to 9 am. I quess it depends on the chicken.

 

[jak2002003]

Mine lay any time from early morning to late afternoon. I have even had chickens lay early evening just as they are going to roost... but that was unusual.

They can 'hold onto the egg' for many hours before they decided they are ready. I have seen some of mine frantically looking for a sneaky place to hide an egg.. even flying up onto things. Some lay eggs in very strange places.. like on top of the rubbish bin.. the coop roof, and even one hen like to lay them on my push bike seat... where they would usually roll off and smash... the hen not caring!

 

[sunflour]

Mine lay any time from early morning to late afternoon. I have even had chickens lay early evening just as they are going to roost... but that was unusual.

Mine also lay anytime, and one laid as the others went to evening roost. She was surprised when she came out of the nest box to find the coop dark and the gang asleep. I had to use a flashlight to help her find her roosting position.

2 of my gals seemed not to understand what was happening with their first eggs. 1 laid hers while walking down the chicken ramp to partake in afternoon treat time and the other laid hers under the water fount. Fake eggs in the nests worked well, until one went broody and tried to hatch them, so had to remove the fake ones, and ever since all lay in the nests.

 

[Twinklin]

mine start as early as 8am and typically stop around 4pm. I have 4 production breeds so they're pretty consistant. 5-6 days a week most of the time.

 

[Cherie1n2]

ok.. i found some more information on how to tell if it's getting close to time to get eggs..i've provided the resource links

To check if the hen’s pelvis bones have begun to separate, cradle the hen between your side and arm with the hen facing your back so you see its rear end. Carefully hold the bird’s feet so it can’t kick. Place your other hand gently on the hen’s rear end. If three prominent bones are close together, don’t expect eggs for a few more weeks, but if the bones have separated, expect eggs soon!
http://www.nutrenaworld.com/knowledge-center/poultry/when-pullets-start-to-lay-eggs/

below is a link on how it's done

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/5-2/how_to_get_more_eggs/

 

[Gingersnap722]

Bruce, good point, thanks!

 

[minamisfit]

I've just started letting my girls free range, but they haven't started laying yet. Will they go back to the coop to lay their eggs or start laying in the grass? That's what I'm afraid will happen :/they are about 11 weeks old