Night-owl chicken

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treehuggermum

Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 43
Location: Surrey

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 9:25 am Post subject: Night-owl chicken
We have two hens that have recently started laying, and have no previous chicken keeping experience. One of the hens is laying at night and the eggs are being stood on and broken. Does anyone have any ideas on how to encourage them to lay during the day?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 9:32 am Post subject:
If they have only just started laying, the problem may sort itself out - the chicken is new to this too!. Otherwise you need to make the nest box as enticing as possible, and make it difficult for her to lay where she is at present.

treehuggermum

Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 43
Location: Surrey

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 10:05 am Post subject:
Thanks for the advice Judith, I will give her some more time

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 12:33 pm Post subject:
I think chickens will lay on a 25 hour cycle so after a few weeks they should be laying during the day. I can only assume hens learn to hold the eggs in until the morning.

treehuggermum

Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 43
Location: Surrey

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 10:32 am Post subject:
Thanks for all the encouragement to be patient, the hen in question has laid mid-morning for the past few days and we've had all eggs deposited neatly in the very comfy, well cushioned egg box.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 05 10:43 am Post subject:
Glad to hear she has sorted herself out. Now if I could just get the one of mine who has taken to laying behind a pile of wood where I can't get at the eggs to listen to my advice ....

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 7:01 pm Post subject:
Judith Can you let her out a bit later, to recondition her thinking.

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