How long does it take to lay an egg?

cuwiar

cuwiar

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Hi, One of my girls, a Black Rock (although I suspect I should be calling her a Rhode Rock as we are in Wales!) had been laying for about a week when we got her two and a half weeks ago.

On her first two mornings she laid an egg, the first was a double yolker, very long and thin and I think a 'stress egg'. She then stopped until yesterday morning. When I let them out yesterday at about 7.30am there was one near the pop hole (not in the nest box) which was still warm - as though she had been desperate to lay it. It was a good, 'normal' egg but that's 15 days between eggs!

This morning (I let them out at 7am) she has been very agitated, pacing up and down, very vocal and has been in and out of the coop a couple of times. I have just given them some morning mash (layers pellets, mealworms, egg, a little corn etc as I'm trying to feed a sickly one up a little bit) and I think that is what she has been waiting for as she has now just gone into the coop again (about 25 - 30 mins ago). She's still in there, no clucking or squawking at present.

So, how long should it take for them to lay an egg? :-)19
 
She's done it! Another perfect (if a little small for a big girl like her!) egg...well done Ebrill!! She must like to do 'silent' eggs :lol:

Just out of interest though, can someone still answer my question? Thank you!
 
I think it can take 20 mins but can't remember where I read that. When my Bluebelle started to lay she used the floor of the coop but after a few days she cottoned on to what the nesting boxes where for. She's a big bird too and is laying smallish eggs but they'll get bigger as she gets older she's still only 24 weeks old and has been laying for 3 of those. I don't think the size of the egg has much to do with the size of the bird. Apart from banties that is.
 
It can take up to 25 hours to make the egg inside, and anything from ''squat and drop'' to an hour or so to lay it. ;)
You'll know if one is having problems, ever heard the saying 'like an ill sitting hen''? She will make alot of noise normally, and keep going in and out of the nestbox looking not happy, she may do this if she is new to laying too, but generally you can see when they're having a problem. I would advise to give a small slosh of codliver oil or veg oil in the feed of new laying hens, not so much the feed is greasy, but it does help to 'grease' the works, failing that, if you think she is having difficulty parting, very gently, you don't want to break the egg inside her, but rub some warm castor oil, or any edible grade oil around the vent area. Castor oil can be tricky to get hold of, but if you explain to a chemist what you are using for, they are usually happy to sell you a small quantity.

jubesxx
 
In the ovaduct there are about 5 eggs in different stages at any one time. The last stage adds the white, a membrane and then finally the shell. The earlier stages are the growth of the yolk. So it takes about a week to grow an egg in total and the last stage is a day 'ish, depending on the bird.
Our Buff Orpingtons lay a lot of very small eggs. The bantam leghorns, who are less than a third of their size, lay more of the same sized eggs than the Orpingtons do. The blue Orpingtons lay big eggs but Princess, the 10lb Black Orpington laid tiny eggs. So WW is right, the size of the hen has very little to do with the size of the egg.
 
Thanks guys! I'm very proud that she seems to be on form and don't mind at all what size her eggs are really!! I think the agitation this morning was due to 'getting in the swing of it' and I'm convinced she was worried about missing out on some morning treats - - but will add extra CLO just in case! She laid in the nest box as she should so that's promising.

Unfortunately, I won't be there tomorrow morning to monitor - I'm really cursing these short days now as I can't get much time either side of work to spend with the girls. I knew it would be a funny time of year to get them but didn't realise it would be this frustrating! :roll:
 
Assume you mean how long in the last stages does it take to lay. If so, the answer is it varies. Some like to go into the nest box and spend a lot of time doing nothing or making slight adjustments to the nest. Some just pop into the box at the last minute and within five minutes, have laid.
 
And some can't be bothered with all that and just drop the egg where they stand Chuck. Fortunately they are few and far between -we only have one Wyandotte occasionally.
 
I train mine from birth Chris - or should I say hatching ! :lol:
 
Thanks for all the info! She generally seems to have got the hang of the nest box and although she spends a while in there when she comes out she soon lets us know she's finished by shouting very loudly!
 
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