Fooling a Hen's Biological Clock

[Kitsap Cluckers]

Everyone I know with layers says they usually lay in the morning. Mine haven’t started to lay yet, but I’ve been stressing out about the “egg song”. I live in a crowded residential area and I’m very afraid the morning noise would disturb my neighbors. I was completely oblivious to the egg song until recently, since my mixed bantams from childhood were freaks of nature and laid their eggs in complete silence.

I was wondering, is there any clever way to tweak a hen’s biological clock and cause her to lay later in the day? Because of my coop design, it would be very difficult to close in or black out. I’m curious to see if anyone has some interesting theories I could test out.

 

[Uppity Peon]

I don't think you can control their schedule. If the neighbors complain, offer them eggs. And if you live in town they are probably used to sirens and traffic noise. They can get used to chickens too.

 

[Matt A NC]

My birds do not lay in the mornings. I can go out at Noon and still only have a couple eggs. They don't seem to get started until 2-4 pm.

Matt

 

[Kitsap Cluckers]

I hope mine are afternoon layers too! I don't care much for a couple of my neighbors and I have no intentions of sharing eggs with them.

 

[MIKE555444]

Interesting thought.... I would think you might play around with there "day time hours" and make atleast some difference.... Maybe by using a light in the evening until midnight... then have dark shades until 1200 noon...

What you think LOL?