When do they know to return to the coop to lay?

[JoCin]

Morning Everyone!

We've had our 6 Cinnamon Queens 6 weeks now. We love having them! All are laying. In fact, 5 of 6 have been laying for 5 weeks, while our last one has been laying for 3 weeks now. We have 2 connected runs they have access to. We haven't been letting them out in the larger run until all eggs are laid. I'm looking for some advice on when it would be OK to let them out into the 2nd run and those that haven't laid will come back to the coop and lay and NOT lay in the run. Thanks.

 

[sourland]

I'd start giving them access to the second pen later in the day after they have laid for week or so until they adjust to the change.

 

[TooCheep]

They should be fine now. Once they've been laying in the nests for a while, they'll know to go back to the nests when they get "that feeling".

 

[Mrs. K]

You might occasionally have a goof, but I would open the big pen, as having enough or more than enough space is very important for healthy flock dynamics.

I let mine out on acres, and they lay in the coop... however, for some reason, I have one hen that prefers to create a nest on the floor, and within days, she has other hens join her. I have tried numerous things and have about given up fighting with her.

Mrs K