The KJV does not give an exact number of hours, but Luke 2 strongly indicates the shepherds arrived very soon after the birth of Jesus, likely that same night.
Luke 2:7 says Mary “brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.”
Then Luke 2:8 says the shepherds were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” The angel announced:
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
— Luke 2:11, KJV
After the angels departed, the shepherds said:
“Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass…”
— Luke 2:15, KJV
Then verse 16 adds:
“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
— Luke 2:16, KJV
So the safest Bible answer is: a short period transpired—probably only hours, not days. The shepherds were told at night that Christ had been born “this day,” they immediately went “now,” and they came “with haste.” When they arrived, Jesus was still “lying in a manger,” just as the angel had said.
This is different from the wise men in Matthew 2, who came later to a “house” and saw the “young child,” not a newborn babe in the manger.
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