cofine hens to coop at egg time?

[0die]

I'm wondering if I should start confining my flock to the coop/run area as they approach egg laying age.

The reason is that they normally free range all day. I wonder if when they start laying it might be in secret spots and not the nesting boxes in the coop.

I figure if they are contained to the coop/run area when they are about to begin laying they will only have the nesting box option...thus imprinting the correct location to lay eggs from the start rather than find they are laying out in the yard and trying to retrain them to use the nesting boxes...

and is there a "normal" time/time period of the day that they usually lay?

 

[aart]

Excellent idea!

First month or so they probably won't lay regularly, you'll have to watch and see what their pattern is if you're around enough to observe. My birds are usually done laying by around 2pm...but then yesterday I had a couple of late layers.