timing of egg laying?

[lacylahman]

We have 9 chickens (2 black copper marans rooster, 1 black copper hen, 2 golden sex-linked hens, and 4 ameracauna hens). They are about 4.5 months old and still waiting for our first eggs.

We have them in a very secure coop with a 25x7ft run complete with 2 grapevines, in which they love to roost. But, I still let them out to free range during the day. Would they normally lay in the morning and evening in the coop? Or, could they be laying any time and anywhere? Could I time their "free" time to encourage them to lay in the coop before I let them out, or do I need to keep them locked up?

 

[onedozenphyllises]

I don't know if this helps, but my chickens free range all day, and virtually always go back to the coop to lay. They seem to do most of their laying around midday - some as early as 9:00-ish, some as late as 4:00, but mostly between 10:00 and 1:00.

That's my girls, though - your mileage may vary.

 

[GrannySue]

My ladies always go back to their boxes to lay. Usually in the same nest, the silly things, but always in their house.
They're free-ranging from dawn to dusk, over about 1/4 acre.