egglaying "schedule"

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

It's been really hot where we live, and I suspect that one or two of our chickens may be laying somewhere in the shade, outside the coop. (I have yet to find their eggs though, so it's possible that they are just taking a break from laying because of the hot weather.) When I shared this with a friend who is more experienced with chickens, she told me that she keeps her chickens confined to the coop and run until about 12 noon. She says they're done laying by noon and that's when she lets them out to free range.

How do you all feel about this? My first thought is that it's not very humane because their run is very small, and while it does have some shade, there is no grass or damp spots where the chickens can cool off. Also, on a more practical note, is it really possible for all her chickens to finish laying before noon? Our chickens lay from mid-morning through mid-afternoon. I've read that it's a sliding cycle that's just over 24 hours long where they start in the morning and then lay later and later in the day, up until a certain point, when the cycle switches to early morning again.

 

[BlueBaby]

My hen's seem to lay in the afternoon, and at different times. How did she talk all of her's to lay in the morning?

 

[Flockandfowl46]

You are correct about the sliding cycle hun and also they will sometimes take a break during high heat

 

[AStinebaugh]

I was under the impression that once they learn to lay in their nest boxes that is where they will always lay. Is this not the case? My mother in law leaves hers in the run until they are well established with laying in their nest boxes. Once she feels they will only lay in their designated area she lets them free range all day long.

 

[BlueBaby]

I was under the impression that once they learn to lay in their nest boxes that is where they will always lay. Is this not the case? My mother in law leaves hers in the run until they are well established with laying in their nest boxes. Once she feels they will only lay in their designated area she lets them free range all day long.

I have some that lay in the nesting box in the coop, some that lay next to it, and yesterday there was an egg in the middle of a puddle out in the run.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

I was under the impression that once they learn to lay in their nest boxes that is where they will always lay. Is this not the case? My mother in law leaves hers in the run until they are well established with laying in their nest boxes. Once she feels they will only lay in their designated area she lets them free range all day long.

I do believe that once they learn to lay in the boxes that's where they will usually lay, but not always. Sometimes the heat in the coop gets so unbearable that they will seek out other spots. I've also heard that if the nest is mite-infested that can drive the hens away, as it must be very uncomfortable for them to sit still and try to lay an egg while getting bitten by mites.

 

[aart]

Our chickens lay from mid-morning through mid-afternoon.

That's more accurate than all before noon.
Mine lay any time between first light and about 3-4pm,
and yes, most shift from earlier to later to earlier again.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... a friend who is more experienced with chickens, she told me that she keeps her chickens confined to the coop and run until about 12 noon. She says they're done laying by noon... Our chickens lay from mid-morning through mid-afternoon. I've read that it's a sliding cycle that's just over 24 hours long where they start in the morning and then lay later and later in the day, up until a certain point, when the cycle switches to early morning again.

I can not add anything to what you have already said.