Is there a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?

  • 5 Replies
  • 2474 Views
*

GerryOB

  • Guest
Is there a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?
« on: July 09, 2010, 07:52 »
Just wondering if there is a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?

We got our girls on Wednesday evening.  The supplier said they were coming up to 19 weeks, which I know means they may not yet be laying at all for another few weeks. 

Penny, the white leghorn has much bigger and redder 'red bits' (I know the bit on top of the head is the comb, not sure about the bit underneath the neck) than all the others.  She also keeps going in to explore the nest boxes, and so does Nugget who is a Ranger, although she has a very small pale comb etc, so not sure if she just fancies a more comfortable bed rather than somewhere to lay eggs.

He do check the nest boxes periodically when they are all out in the run, but not sure if they would only lay over night or first thing in the morning or what.

Anyone got any ideas please?

Many thanks.

Gerry

*

joyfull

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: lincolnshire
  • 22168
    • Monarch Engineering Ltd
Re: Is there a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2010, 08:03 »
the red bits underneath are called the wattles.
They can lay anytime during the day but not very often at night - sometimes if you find an egg early in the morning they will have laid it first thing or late the day before  :)
Staffies are softer than you think.

*

Sassy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: North Yorkshire
  • 2553
Re: Is there a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2010, 08:08 »
Even when they are laying it is unlikely they will lay at the same time every day as it takes about 25 hours to 'make' an egg! :)
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted!!

*

GerryOB

  • Guest
Re: Is there a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2010, 08:31 »
Ahhh right, thank you!  I thought it was the wattles but wasn't 100% sure. 

I just think Penny may not be too far off laying her first egg with the way she looks and the way she keeps nipping inside to check out the nest boxes.

Gerry

*

TeaPots

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 1597
Re: Is there a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2010, 12:50 »
Have a read trough the posts on first eggs, so you dont worry...the hens can lay some real oddities to start with. Shells with no egg, yolk with no shell, teeny weeny eggs, what looks like 2 or 3 eggs all attached in a row, etc. They may lay the odd one a week, until finally settling to laying one perfick egg every day for you.

It might help to put a rubber egg (or I just use an old white golfball) in the nestbox where they are to lay, as they see it and like to lay their eggs with it. It gives them the confidence they need. You still might find a stray egg in the run, just lift it and put it in the nest box, to show her where she SHOULD have laid it. Keep us posted...

*

grumpydad

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: kidsgrove, staffordshire
  • 779
Re: Is there a 'usual' time of day for hens to lay?
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2010, 19:14 »
we have one that lays very early, just after i open the pop hole, she has a drink and goes back in to lay, 2 others that go in at lunchtime, and a fourth that can lay anytime during the day.



xx
should I take on 5 week old hens for my first time?

Started by anitaws on The Hen House

2 Replies
1705 Views
Last post February 24, 2009, 13:01
by anitaws
xx
new hens spending more time in

Started by maninvan on The Hen House

4 Replies
1691 Views
Last post January 31, 2011, 13:30
by orchardlady
xx
does anyone get to see their hens this time of year?

Started by wolverine on The Hen House

16 Replies
7102 Views
Last post November 23, 2010, 13:26
by TeaPots
xx
What time do hens wake up at?

Started by peewee_lane on The Hen House

14 Replies
13491 Views
Last post October 15, 2008, 22:11
by Oliveview
 

Page created in 0.233 seconds with 39 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |