Laying egg early from roost

[Wmaddox]

So my hen is a high production breed that lays every day. She is about 8-9 months old. She had been laying regularly in the box but for the past 2-3 weeks she has been laying from the roost. Usually they break but I have gotten a few that did not. I have found them always by 7am and sometimes as early as 530 am. I’ve tried moving her so she can go straight to roost and not have to mess with other girls blocking and she still lays before it’s light out. Tonight I put a light in the coop hoping to mess up her rhythm but who knows if that will work. I’m at my wits end. Any thoughts to help would be appreciated

 

[Iluveggers]

The light may help so she can see to find the nest box, not necessarily to mess with her rhythm. Occasionally I’ll see one of my girls in the nest early before sunrise, but they must have enough light to find their way there.

 

[sjango]

Until this stops you can place her in a nesting box each night and check in the morning until you don't see an egg. Once you don't see an egg she is safe to be left on the roost. This happened to one of my girls once and lasted over a month!

 

[Wmaddox]

The light may help so she can see to find the nest box, not necessarily to mess with her rhythm. Occasionally I’ll see one of my girls in the nest early before sunrise, but they must have enough light to find their way there.

Oh I was only keeping the light on before bed . I don’t have one I could leave on all night. Any other ideas?

 

[Wmaddox]

Until this stops you can place her in a nesting box each night and check in the morning until you don't see an egg. Once you don't see an egg she is safe to be left on the roost. This happened to one of my girls once and lasted over a month!

Ok I just put her in the nesting box. When their eggs break and she / they get to them before I do. They eat the egg so I’m hoping she isn’t going to start purposely breaking her eggs. This will be a great test. Thank you for this idea.

 

[igorsMistress]

Ok I just put her in the nesting box. When their eggs break and she / they get to them before I do. They eat the egg so I’m hoping she isn’t going to start purposely breaking her eggs. This will be a great test. Thank you for this idea.

You usually don’t have to worry about egg eating if they’re only after the broken eggs. I’ve chucked eggs out to my flock many times raw but they don’t eat them otherwise.

 

[Wmaddox]

Ok I just put her in the nesting box. When their eggs break and she / they get to them before I do. They eat the egg so I’m hoping she isn’t going to start purposely breaking her eggs. This will be a great test. Thank you for this idea.

Oh good that’s a relief

 

[aart]

This can happen, eventually they will get their rhythm back.
Using a light to solve the 'problem' might throw their rhythm off even more.

 

[3KillerBs]

Is it summer or winter where you are?

The one time I had hens avoiding their nest I found a blacksnake curled up in the box under the bedding.

 

[Wmaddox]

Is it summer or winter where you are?

The one time I had hens avoiding their nest I found a blacksnake curled up in the box under the bedding.

It’s winter. I live in northern nevada so it’s cold and about to be snow weather. We have already had intermittent snow. But it’s only her and it in the early morning hours so she either can’t see to get there in time or she’s being lazy. She lays the best eggs, double yolkers here and there. So I’m hating they are breaking. Especially bc I only have her and one other laying