All of my pullets molted when it was still nice, I thought that might be a sign that they might lay before winter set in, I've had the light on in the coop 15hrs a day, and let them out in the afternoons, I'm not overly worried about predators, we had a hawk attack one of my pullets a couple months ago, in the morning, and the roosters herded most of the girls back into the coop, and one stayed in the far corner with the rest of them, watching the hawk till I came out and scared it off, then they all went into the coop and didn't come out for two days, even when I opened the door the second afternoon.
I unfortunately can't go and check for eggs today until I'm ready to let them out, as they will run out the second I open the door, i make sure that they have food and water in the evening, to last till I can let them out. I want to go find more eggs, but I know my girls to well.
eta: so i got impatient and managed to sneak into the coop (bringing treats) no one snuck out, and I got to watch one lay her first egg, she was in the process when I walked in, this was a proper pullet sized egg, my first one I found was full sized. There are a few girls pacing in and out of the boxes this morning while i was there. I left a couple golf balls, one in the darkest spot, and one where the girl laid her egg this morning, so I could take the egg with me.
