what influences a hen to lay in the day?

[BG2heu]

I am curious as to the 'timing' of my girls' laying habits. They never seem to cackle until late in the day. it's now cold and dark most of the mornings, and we turn on a light at about 7-8 am. they still don't start making noise until 3-4 hrs later. and I have a few that like to lay an egg around suppertime. They had the same patten in the summer when it was sunny early. Best guess? or do the wise ones know?

 

[Judy]

Mine are mostly noontime layers but will lay at 5 PM too. Let's give you a bump for the why.

 

[coldinnh]

no expert here- but I read somewhere (either here in Backyard Poultry or the like) that a cecadian (?) cycle is not set for new layers and won't be until their second year and that girls will plop when they will the first part of their first year.

 

[TomG]

I have morning girls, from 7am to noon. They are all in their first year. I only have four but they are fairly predictable. The sex link and the reds are all done by ten and set for about twenty minutes while laying. The barred rock climbs in the box around 10am and stays for two hours. I have wondered why she takes so much more time than the others, both pre lay and after, especially when she lays the smallest egg of the girls.