Laying Early in the Morning . . . REALLY Early!

[Anon112]

(I'm on a thread posting hot streak apparently!)

One of my hens is a Wynnedote who is a little over 6 months old. About a month ago, she and her fellow teenagers started laying.

About a week or two ago, I was doing my morning check and found her in the nesting box. This alarmed me because my experience is that a hen who spends the night in the nesting box can be a sign of injury or illness. I couldn't remember if I'd tucked them in that night. I checked the next few days: not in the nesting box, normal behavior.

Then I came outside a day or two ago and the same hen was down on the ground in the run. I really panicked then, because a few months back I had a rat attack situation and the rats were flushing the chickens off the roost to attack them. But I reviewed my security camera footage and she got down on her own and then headed for the alternate laying location (sort of a sheltered on-ground nest they like) at about 6:10am, 35 minutes before sunrise.

This also explains why I found a few eggs over the last month on a platform thing where the chickens both roost and sometimes hang out.

Is this anything to be really concerned about? Now that I get what's happening, she's either laying on the roost or getting down off of the roost like half an hour before the sun comes up. My main concern is just her hurting herself flying down to go lay. But I'm also interested to know if this somehow can be a symptom of something else.

Any thoughts about this situation? As the year goes on, the sun will start rising earlier and earlier, so that's good I guess.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Now that I get what's happening, she's either laying on the roost or getting down off of the roost like half an hour before the sun comes up. My main concern is just her hurting herself flying down to go lay. But I'm also interested to know if this somehow can be a symptom of something else.

Sounds like if there's enough light, she's coming down to lay in a nest or favorite spot, if not, then she's laying the egg from the roost.

No, not likely a symptom of something else, it's just her body's time to lay an egg. Usually it's every 24-26hours, so as she gets older and the days get longer, the time will change for her a little.

I wouldn't worry too much, if she's active, eating/drinking, the eggs are nicely shelled, etc. then I think she's o.k.

 

[kattabelly]

I agree - unless you have some other reason to be concerned, it sounds totally fine and normal.

I live somewhere with pretty short winter days and my chickens will get up an hour or more before sunrise, and sometimes go to lay during that time. Sometimes one will be laying when all the others are going to roost, and they'll somehow find their way up onto the roost in the almost-dark once they're done.

 

[Anon112]

Okay, thanks friends! I've never experienced such an early morning layer before! I've had one who laid late in the day, and one who laid just after getting off of the roost, but they were both still always laying when it was light outside.

 

[GravityWaves]

I used to have a Leghorn that was the first to lay every single day. Several times I went to the coop before it got light and she already had an egg under her in the nest box. Like others said, that's just the way they are sometimes.

 

[RoyalChick]

I have two pullets who just started to lay. One is a 3am kinda gal and the 4:30 gal joins her in the same box.

First couple of nights on camera I thought they had disappeared!

 

[kattabelly]

I have two pullets who just started to lay. One is a 3am kinda gal and the 4:30 gal joins her in the same box.

First couple of nights on camera I thought they had disappeared!

Occasionally one of mine will somehow find her way into another coop's nest at the crack of dawn - apart from recently when she was getting locked in overnight because of the chicks - but then can't seem to find her way back to the coop she prefers to sleep in. She just stands around in the dark like a weirdo, outside or under the nest coop, until it starts getting light enough to see properly and for the others to come out.

 

[Bawkbok]

For some reason our girls wake up almost an hour before sunrise. It's still dark and they are restless for the auto door!!
We always have an egg that I collect as soon as the door opens. She is a night layer but without a coop cam I have no idea what time of night she is laying. There are two nests she prefers and it varies from day to day.
For being night blind, they obviously move around a bit which amazes me. Chickens are mysterious creatures sometimes.

 

[Anon112]

For being night blind, they obviously move around a bit which amazes me. Chickens are mysterious creatures sometimes.

Yes! Watching the hen on the camera squinting at the ground and then jumping down made my heart pound! I guess I was relieved that she was only on the ground for about 30 minutes before I got up. And at this point my rat issue is much more under control. But still! I hate watching them wander around in the dark, especially after having seen several of my chickens get attacked.

 

[Bawkbok]

And at this point my rat issue is much more under control.

Truly nasty creatures and they freak me out. We've only encountered a rat twice but they so huge I know they can inflict damage. Our dog does a good job of keeping them away. He hangs out by the chicken run.