Very noisy and very early egg laying, anything you can do?

[SunshineLucy]

I LOVE my 2 girls, had them since they were a day old and was super excited when they started laying eggs recently. However, I do have them in my backyard, so they are real backyard chooks

, but they are not only super noisy for more than an hour before they lay, but they are also super early, usually around 5 am when the noise starts. I don't want to annoy the neighbours and don't want to give my 2 girls away, is there anything I could do to change the chicken clock and make them lay eggs at a later time in the day??? Even 8 am would do (so the eggsong would start at 7am which is just ok for the poor neighbours).

Any ideas are much appreciated! Thanks! or should I say bwaaaak bwaaaaak bwaaaaaaaaaaaak!

 

[Vicky2479]

I have wondered the same thing, my girls don't start till about 7 but it is winter here so it is darker longer, i am hoping their new coop will help come summer as it is much darker and i think i will turn the door away from the morning sun. maybe you could try something like that, can you make their coop abit darker? i have read some posts on here about keep Roos in a darker space to stop them crowing so early. Good luck i hope someone else can give some more help as i will be watchng for some answers too

 

[tamglas]

I'm in a similar situation. I think I read someone putting dark paper or material in the windows of their coop to get their chickens to sleep longer in the mornings. I have been getting up at 5:30am to open up the coop so the chickens are stumbling out into the yard while half awake. I then throw "treats" out to them to keep them busy for as long as possible. It's then my turn to go back to sleep or make some very strong coffee (mud).

It's been in the 90's for the last few days so we have only been getting one egg a day from the three girls who are now laying.

Good Luck!