[RICH_Chicken]

Hi All,

Ive had some chickens since November now and im loving the task! Although i am a little confused in terms of egg laying and have been told a number of different stories. If i have 6 hens, should i expect 6 eggs a day? or 4 one day 2 the next or a 3 and 3? as i thought it took roughly 24 hours to produce an egg, so surely thats roughly 6 every 2 days?

I am thinking on the right lines? or completely off track?

Cheers

Rich

[joyfull]

it depends on the breed and the age of the hens I'm afraid so no simple answer. Hybrids that have been developed to produce masses of eggs in their first 2 years will lay on average 6 eggs a week (it takes about 25 hours to produce an egg) but pure breeds will lay 3 - 4 eggs a week but they can carry on laying for over 8 years.

[4chooks]

Also am i rite in saying from my days as a battery farm worker
that hens need is 12hrs or 14hrs daylight???

[joyfull]

25 hours in total when the days are long enough.

[emotion-2003]

i have 13 hens and they are laying one day 7-8 eggs after day 3-5 then again 7-8...etc.1 french maran,1 oprington and 11 warrens.oprington laying 1 egg a week.good thing is i am getting enough eggs for my children and my hens are happy and healthy

[Suzybat]

My Orpingtons are laying every day, its their first few months though, one started laying a few days ago and shes already laying 66 gram eggs, very impressed.

[Sassy]

I agree re the number of hours daylight required but chooks continue to confound us by breaking their own rules. I had a duck start to lay the day before the shortest day and 2 chooks a week later.!!

[ANHBUC]

I agree re the number of hours daylight required but chooks continue to confound us by breaking their own rules. I had a duck start to lay the day before the shortest day and 2 chooks a week later.!!

So true, I bought 4 Black Rocks at 12 weeks old and they started to lay at 26 weeks.  As this was their first winter I expected them to lay but not every day.  Three of them started to molt so did not lay until last week when they have started again.  The only one that has laid over the winter lays the smallest of all the eggs.  Luckily I have 2 Goldlines who have kept going throughout the winter.  Think they and the one Black Rock are looking decidedly scruffy now so waiting to see if they will molt and stop laying soon. 

Contrary is possibly a good description for hens.   

Or hens are "like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get!"