how long do hens stay in the nest box to lay an egg?

[chickengr]

my pullet who started to lay on Dec 16th stays for hours before she lays an egg. she might even lay a few times a day and coming out then going back to the nest box before she manages to lay an egg. I can hear her egg song all day long. is it normal or she has got some problem?

 

[cavemanrich]

I noticed with some of my hens, that they would try, abandon the idea, and then return to finish the job. They all live healthy lives.

 

[chickengr]

thank you.

I have done some research about egg binding, just to know what causes it and prevent it, just in case. and I should put my pullet on diet! she is too fat.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

When pullets first start laying, those first couple of months, they can be quite the drama queen...some more than others.

It sound normal...although if she is truly too fat, I would reduce her intake or change feed.

But changes are everything is fine...she's just a drama queen.

LofMc

 

[Ridgerunner]

Most of my pullets and hens lay an egg within a half hour of going on the nest but I have had some go longer. One specific hen would stay on the nest about three hours before she finally laid her egg and was a nest hog to boot. She would not allow another hen to share the nest with her. When I eventually butchered her she was fine inside. No internal laying or other problems. She was just a pain because of her being a nest hog. By the way, her eggs were not that large either, medium sized, fairly round, and light brown. I could tell which was hers.

I’ve also seen hens go on a nest, come off without laying an egg, and go back later to lay, often to a different nest. Pullets tend to do that more often than older hens but I’ve has several do that. It’s not because the nest she eventually wanted was full either. Often it is empty.

Each chicken is an individual with its own habits and personality. It’s possible she is having a problem but it’s probable there is nothing really wrong with her, that’s just the way she is.

 

[tuner06]

my leghorn (salty) she's in and out of the coop all morning. when I go out to let them out in the morning she's the first out then she'll go back in and she will do this until someone lays an egg then she will sing the egg song. Not because she had the egg but its just there then some time in the after noon she'll lay her egg and sing the song again. O she is the head hen of my flock.

 

[chickengr]

new issue with my pullet. she is not laying in the nest box but at the corner of the coop on the floor. I put some pine shavings and hay on top to make it warmer and she thinks it is a great place to lay! my coop is small, just for sleeping, they go out in the morning and come back late in the afternoon. so no problem for her to lay there, I will not chase her. she layed her first eggs on the floor of the coop.

the other reason why she does not want to lay in the box might be because one of my new chicken was curious and went in there. and my laying pullet is such an egoist and bully, so everything is possible.

 

[tuner06]

Mine lay on the coop floor also. Right in front of the pop door as they go in and out
Have never understood why they do that or they'll lay in the far corner where I
Can't reach it that's when I get Break out the rake to get them. I only use one nestbox
I have 2 but they only like the one. My chickens are nuts. Some days they lay on
The floor and other days I will find all my egg in the box. I guess it's all a matter of preference

 

[Blooie]

I've got one that is like a three year old on a car trip! You know, acting like everything is wonderful, just looking around, enjoying the surroundings and her companions, then BLAMO! "Ma, I gotta GO!" Right now, right this second! That's my Beatrice - runs around all day long, exploring, eating, scratching then she's suddenly desperate to get into that coop and on that nest right now! She pops in, drops the egg, then pops right back off and resumes her puttering around right where she left off.

Mathilda, on the other hand, will run around the coop frantically, digging holes, grabbing stuff off the floor to hide herself under, squawk, then jump up and run around to find another hole. Repeat! Finally she'll hop into any empty nest, fluff it, toss feathers and straw onto her back, stand up, sit down, lay down, stand back up and after a couple of hours she'll finally lay her egg. Then she fluffs, makes herself cozy, and looks out daring any other chicken to get close, meaning that nest is off limits to the other girls for another hour or so. Nope, she's not broody - she's been like this since her first egg last summer. It's just the drama queen in her.

 

[RcoM]

I've got one that is like a three year old on a car trip! You know, acting like everything is wonderful, just looking around, enjoying the surroundings and her companions, then BLAMO! "Ma, I gotta GO!" Right now, right this second! That's my Beatrice - runs around all day long, exploring, eating, scratching then she's suddenly desperate to get into that coop and on that nest right now! She pops in, drops the egg, then pops right back off and resumes her puttering around right where she left off.

Mathilda, on the other hand, will run around the coop frantically, digging holes, grabbing stuff off the floor to hide herself under, squawk, then jump up and run around to find another hole. Repeat! Finally she'll hop into any empty nest, fluff it, toss feathers and straw onto her back, stand up, sit down, lay down, stand back up and after a couple of hours she'll finally lay her egg. Then she fluffs, makes herself cozy, and looks out daring any other chicken to get close, meaning that nest is off limits to the other girls for another hour or so. Nope, she's not broody - she's been like this since her first egg last summer. It's just the drama queen in her.

I love reading about all these chooks and their egg laying fiascos. Its funny and entertaining. I can imagine them now.