In this article we’re going to talk about Where do free range chicken lay their eggs
We’ll also talk about how often chicken lay eggs
Do chickens lay eggs anywhere?
So if you’re interested in all about free range chickens and laying eggs you’re going to love this article
Sound good?
Great!
Let’s get started
Where Do Free Range Chickens Lay Their Eggs?
A free range chicken would lay their eggs pretty much anywhere
How does this happen?
It’s because they have access to the outdoors and get to roam around
This means they will lay eggs anywhere outdoors
This leads me to my next point
Can Chickens Lay Eggs Anywhere?
Yes chickens can lay their eggs anywhere
They don’t necessarily need a nesting box
Especially a chicken that is free range
Because they have access to the outdoors they would lay their eggs anywhere
Here’s the tricky part though
It can be difficult finding the eggs
Why?
Because they would tend to hide them from predators and other chickens
Let’s look at some of the reasons why a chicken would lay their eggs everywhere
Why Are Chickens Laying Eggs Everywhere?
Chickens would lay their eggs everywhere for a number of reasons
Young Hens Have Just Started Laying Eggs
If a young hen has just started laying eggs be prepared to find eggs everywhere
Because they are new to laying eggs, they don’t know where to lay eggs or they need time to decide where to lay eggs
Which is why they would randomly lay eggs anywhere
Young hens also need time to learn how to use the nesting box to lay eggs
The good thing is young hens will eventually learn how to use the nesting box once they get used to laying
Here’s the bad news – Some hens would prefer laying in different spots of their choice instead of the nesting box
That’s the bad news
But there is good news too
Young hens will make lots of noise when laying eggs so the minute you hear your hens making noise you can assume they’ve laid an egg so you can quickly collect it!
Chickens Are Hiding Their Eggs
Hens are protective over their eggs which is why they would hide it
They hide it to protect the eggs from predators and other chickens too
Free range hens would usually do this
Nest Box Is Dirty
If the nesting box is dirty your chicken won’t use it
Chickens are very particular about keeping their eggs clean
They also want to lay their eggs in a clean and comfortable dry place
So a dirty nest box will deter your chickens from laying eggs there
They would look for a clean place to lay eggs
You should keep their nesting box clean, dry and comfortable
Not Enough Nesting Boxes
If there is not enough nesting boxes for your chickens they would look to lay their eggs elsewhere
The more egg laying chickens you have the more nesting boxes you’re going to need
You should have one nesting box for 4 to 5 chickens in a flock
Rooster Harassing Chickens
Roosters like to peck on chickens due to their natural courting behavior
It’s something roosters just do
This can make hens run away and look for a safe spot to lay eggs
How Often Do Free-Range Chickens Lay Eggs?
This depends on the breed of the chicken
But usually a chicken would lay one egg a day
Another thing to factor is the hens reproductive cycle
Generally a hens reproductive cycle is about 24 to 27 hours long
This results in a hen laying an egg a day
How Do You Find Where My Chickens Are Laying Their Eggs?
You should have a good look inside your chicken coop
There’s a good chance your chicken has laid an egg in the coop and not the nesting box
You may find an egg in the corner, in the roosting area or even in the middle of the floor
Other places to check is in the hay/straw bales, dog house (If you have a dog), shed
Wrapping Up
Free range chickens would lay their eggs pretty much anywhere because they have access outdoors
If you have nesting boxes then your chickens would lay eggs there
That is if the nesting box is clean and suitable for your chicken to use
A dirty nesting box would deter a chicken from laying eggs there
A free range chicken may hide their eggs to protect them from predators and even other chickens
