will my free range hens lay in the coop?

[ozark hen]

Hi, will my new free range hens come back to their nesting boxes to lay their eggs in the day time? I have been keeping them penned up until today. It was their first day outside and no eggs today. They did come back to their pen around noon but still no eggs. I am new at this and you folks have made this "chicken venture' very easy for me and I really do appreciate all the help.

 

[Picco]

They will usually come back to lay their eggs in the coop. Once in a while a few hens will find a nesting site outside that they seem to like better but thats usually only when they are getting broody.

 

[justusnak]

I really dont know the answer to this one....but...what I do...is keep mine in untill about 2 or 3 pm. By then I know all have layed. Maybe when you put them up tonight, they will lay for ya...and you will have an early morning surprise! Do you know what time they usually lay? Maybe keeping them in untill then? I dunno...

 

[chickflick]

My hens cone back to their nest boxes to lay their eggs. My hens lay at all different times of day, so keeping them in wouldn't work for me. But, like I said, they do come home to lay.

 

[ozark hen]

thanks to all of you. You all say they will come back to lay so I will just let them do their thing. They usually lay late morning to early afternoon but since they have just been released the time may change
I guess I will find out now won't I?

 

[bigzio]

I agree it's best to leave the hens in till noon or so, then some of the hens will be done laying. The remaining hens that haven't layed yet should return to lay. If you continue to remain eggless, it's best to keep the hens in the coop till they start leaving their eggs in the nest box again on a regular basis.

bigzio

 

[ozark hen]

thanks Bigzio, I will do that.