What Time Do Your Hens Lay Their Eggs

[jtn42248]

I have 23 hens of several breeds that are just over 20 weeks old. Three of them have begun to lay, one consistently lays a double yolker. They all lay between 9 and 11 a.m. When I was a kid on my grandparents farm I recall that the hens all laid their eggs much earlier than that. Will they begin to lay earlier as they get used to it, will my other 20 hens do the same? What time of day do your hens lay their eggs. I know they will lay anytime and anywhere the mood strikes them. But, wanted to see if there was some egg laying pattern/schedule that mine are missing.

They are in the coop until 6:30 a.m. then let out to feed and free range for about an hour. They go out to free range again about noon for another hour. Then, free range for a couple of hours more before being put up for the night. In addition they have a supply of commercial feed available at all time along with their grit and oyster shell. I do not use additional lighting, this time of year the sun stays up until 9 p.m. anyway.

And they are in a large covered run with shade, water, feed and plenty of things to entertain themselves with during the day when not free ranging including grasshoppers, crickets and the occasional lizard that runs thru at risk of life, limb and tail.

 

[Judy]

This flock usually lays in the morning, which I really don't understand. If they are on a 25 hour schedule, why would that be? Why not lay an hour later each day til they are laying near sunset, then skip a day, then start over in the morning? I see afternoon eggs at times, but not that often.

Maybe in the end we should be glad they rarely lay after dark!