When do you let your chickens out in the morning?

[PacsMan]

My chickens will be laying in about 5 or 6 weeks. From what I've read, most of the chickens lay in the earlier part of the day.

I'd like them to lay all of their eggs before noon, and before we let them out into the run. They each have a terrific about of space each in the run. (90+ feet) And I ~don’t~ want to search for eggs in the many places they might lay.

I've got the lighting figured out so they will get 14+ hours of light a day; if the shortest day of the year is December 21st, (sun set that day here is 5:03 pm) then I need to turn a light on in the coop at 3 am. (I’m doing it in the morning because I’ve read that chickens don't like the abrupt "lights out", but prefer night time lights going out slowly...)

My question is, if they're up at 3 am, how long do they need to be in the coop to be done egg laying for the day? I haven’t set up any early morning lights yet, and we've been letting them out as late as noon during the day, but that seems like too long in the coop.

Can anyone tell me how long my ladies are going to need to lay their eggs, before I let them out in the morning?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

When mine first started laying, I had to lock them up in the run for about a week as they were laying in the flower beds and every place else. Now they run back to the coop to lay. Mine lay anywhere from early am to late afternoon

 

[PacsMan]

Quote:
Do you give them any artificial light in the morning?

 

[ZooMummzy]

Mine just naturally went back in the coop to lay so I just let them out when I get up around 7am. Only now and then in the beginning did I find an egg in the run. My hens lay all day though, a couple of them as late as 4pm.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
Do you give them any artificial light in the morning?

No. I've got a "skylight" built into my roof. No elect out there.

 

[CATRAY44]

I don't' use any artificial light. My sex links gave me eggs all winter. Even at 30 below, I had a couple that kept going.

 

[ams3651]

its my understanding they will lay at all times during the day because they do have a cycle. Ive seen mine lay at 8am and 3pm and anywhere in between. I kept them in the coop when they first went out so they got used to it but they also dont get to free range till late afternoon to keep them from wondering into my neighbors yard. Their door is always open into the run so they come out when they want to.

 

[minifarmgurl1]

Ive got mine in the old garage we dont use for much of anything and we have a door cut out to let them come and go as they please..i dont shut it at night because weve never had a problem with critters coming up to our yard..(I live on 205 acres) also my dog loves those chickens and is very protected over them and his yard..he runs loose all day and night..i have very high fencing up around them so far nothing has happened..and they are out in their yard after the crack of daylight and put themselves up at night. They love the cool cement floor in the hot hours of the day.

 

[K-Chick]

If you can train them to all lay before noon then you should write a book.

I think like someone above said to train them where to lay by keeping them in the coop for a while. That should do the trick.

 

[Redhead Hen]

When I had RIRs they would lay anytime of day the felt like it! Seriously! Sometimes I'd get eggs early like at 8am but sometimes they could lay as late as 4 or 5pm! I did not let them free range though - neighbor has dogs and I don't want my chickens got get eaten! I do know that each laying hen would use the same box! Never found one in the run - as we have a good size run since they don't free range. I do think if you kept them cooped after they are laying, they may *learn* to deposit eggs in the boxes (or it may become a habit since they seem to do their own thing, just like kids!).

Good luck and enjoy the eggs!!