Free range, eggs missing!

[SarahMcD]

I'm having the same situation...when I hear a hen starting to cluck I run outside and put her in the pen - which I have to keep shut to keep the dog from eating eggs.

I plan on building a Dutch door to keep that dog out and allow hens in.

 

[OahuChickenLady]

I just leave them in until I've collected all their eggs. I only have 4 chickens and they usually lay every day. They sure yelled a lot when I first started doing it but they are fine now. They are usually done by 9-10am and I let them out then. If on the rare occasion that one does not lay that day I usually let them out by noon. I found that once I broke them of laying outside their coop they are more reliable about going back to their coop to lay their eggs if they are let out early.