How long???

[Nicos]

Anyone worked out how long it takes a chook to actually lay an egg? Mine seem to sit about and sit about and natter to themselves, and half an hour later can still have not laid.
Is that a silly question maybe- like how long does it take to deliver a baby???

Betty is still sitting in the planter an hour later

[happybunny]

Just like us really innit

Us grapes, we sit and natter! How long does it take us to resist the temptation of not going on the vine
Hmmm...

[Jardiniere]

and how long can they hang on for when they want to lay but arent anywhere they like laying?
My birds go in an enclosed run when i'm in but not in the garden but there is no shelter or anywhere private and i have noticed that sometimes when i let them back into their little pen where the nest box is they will go straight in and lay me an egg....but didint lay it out in the open....

[Flummery]

Legs crossed eh Jardiniere?

[Suechooks]

One of my ex-batts dropped one at my feet this morning cos I was cleaning out the nest box she wanted to lay in - she had been fussing about chuntering for a few minutes beforehand! I've seen them hot-footing up the lottie to lay sometimes when the worms and grubs have been sooooooo exciting so nearly got taken short!

[Glutton4...]

I've always wanted to watch one laying, but so far haven't managed it. Surprising really, as my ex-batts will happily lay out in the open.

[frias]

My ex-batts all laid in the run the first day I had them, only a couple did the second day and by the third day they were all laying inside and have since. (except a broody during the summer who made her own nest in the garden)They always use the nest box during the day but sometimes when I open up the coop in the morning they have already laid in the sawdust.
It was a lovely day here today and not too cold, so at lunchtime I thought I would give the coop and nestbox a good scrub. OH did some alterations to the nestbox making the front higher to discourage sleeping in it. As soon as I had finished Spotty went dashing in muttering to herself. She emerged 4 times and came down the ramp before finally deciding she would lay an egg in the altered nestbox. I only hope they all decide the alterations are OK tomorow.

[HayleyB]

I've some that disappear for a minute and then that's it - laid. A couple really really have to do it in one particular box and if it's taken they will cross legs. And I have some that take at least half an hour cause they need to be really comfortable.

I have two that started to lay in the feed room which resulted in cracked or broken eggs so I've given them their own nest box made out of an old plastic deep feed bowl and they are now happily using it.

I had one in a nest box the other day when I took in the late pm feed pans you should have seen her face, absolute panic, took her about five minutes to push that egg out

[Glutton4...]

I opened the nest-box lid the other day and surprised a white one, who yelled at me loudly and flew out - Ooops

The brown ones are more used to me, and just look at me as if to say 'p*** off Mum' if I disturb them.

BTW, I've now got Nosey Rosie (Brown) and Bianca (White) who both come and sit on my lap, voluntarily!