egg laying schedule change....

[Elly]

I have five hens of various breeds, two of which are laying regularly. The other three are doing the "Squat" so I'm expecting eggs from them within the next few weeks.

My question... is there a way to get them to lay their eggs more or less at the same time...say morning. Right now one hen has laid by time I get out to the hen house by 8am, the other doesn't lay till almost noon. I don't like to let them out for their free range till the eggs have been laid for fear of them laying their eggs somewhere else where I won't find them. I work evenings so have to have them back in the coop by 2pm so I can be out the door by 2:30. This doesn't give them too much time to stretch their legs and free range.

 

[KellyHM]

Since their cycle takes more than 24 hours, they usually get a little later every day, and eventually skip a day, then start back over in the morning. As long as they know where they are suppose to lay they should go back into the coop to lay, even if they're out eating (at least mine do).

 

[SGM]

I would say no. I seem to notice that a hen will lay in the morning, then midday, then late day and then skip a day. Start back at morning, etc. So I think some are longer at developing eggs.

 

[Heather J]

I usually have all my eggs by 2 pm (no help there, I know), but on *very* rare occasions, I've gotten all they are going to lay by noon (usually none before noon), and once or twice they haven't laid any until after 3 pm. two days ago I didn't get one at all *sigh* Little buggers, don't they know I have to pay for feed even if they don't lay any eggs.

I would just let my birds out to run for the day, but then I find eggs hidden in the goose/duck run, and of course, the ducks have to cover them up, so I don't know how old they are, so I usually don't let them out to run until later. Generally even if they do get out early, (ie, i don't get the run door blocked closed) the eggs end up in the nest anyway.