I was very interested to read everyones thoughts on hens laying during the night. My four girls seem to be picking and choosing when to lay. They have only been laying for three weeks.
The first week soft shells were being laid either during the night or very early in the morning as they would be there at 8 AM. Things settled into a pattern of laying between 10 -11 AM for the next week or so.
Saturday morning I go out at 8 AM to find three eggs (all broken in their nests - which is where they have been wanting to sleep) had been laid during the night.
One hen hadnt laid before so I'm guessing one was hers as it was very soft. Then during the day one egg was laid outside in the coop (broken when we found it).
Yesterday three out of four lay between 11.15 and 11.30 am. We decided that we would put some fairly light coloured shade cloth over part of their coop and also blocked off their nest at night (this was done at 6.30 pm), I go out to check this morning at 7 AM to find two eggs (both broken) had been laid from the perch.
An egg was laid between 10 - 11 AM this morning outside in their coop - I'm wondering if the neighbour starting up their lawn mower may have startled them and they have run outside as one did this the first week of laying when startled?
I'm also wondering if the fact we altered their sleeping arrangements may have upset them?
