A PIONEERING free range egg farm is experiencing record production levels after hatching a plan to relax its hens by playing them hits by Ed Sheeran.

Adrian Potter said the 200,000 chickens on his 400-acre family farm stopped clucking, pointed their heads up and became noticeably more relaxed after he played tunes by the Grammy Award-winning singer at high volumes.

The Northern Echo: Ed Sheeran
RECORD NUMBERS: Ed Sheeran

Mr Potter, a third generation egg farmer whose parents set up the country's second free range farm at Catton, near Thirsk, in 1970, said he had been astonished by the hens' reaction, having previously played classical, jazz and Justin Bieber tunes to them.

He said introducing the music and another innovations, such as tree-lined ranges, had contributed towards each chicken producing more than 300 eggs each during its lifetime, a rise of more than ten following what he admits was intended to be "a bit of fun rather than a scientific experiment".

Mr Potter said: “All of our systems are designed by ourselves and one of the comfort techniques we are keen on is playing music for the hens to listen to at key moments during the day to keep them as mellow and productive as possible.

“The music they respond to most positively is Ed Sheeran and they lay more and better quality eggs. I think it is his tones they enjoy.

"I'm an Ed Sheeran fan and the hens seem to be too - when Ed is playing the hens start laying.

“Nobody at the farm calls him Ed Sheeran anymore, he’ll forever be Egg Sheeran around here."

The farmer, who is one of Asda's main suppliers, said pampering the hens, which have a natural outdoor diet, was crucial as happy hens produce more better quality eggs.

The musical experiment follows a mother from Cornwall reporting last year that her hens' eggs had doubled in size from an average 55g after she started playing heavy metal music to them.

A British Free Rang Egg Producers' Association spokesman said: "Reducing stress in hens improves performance.

"So if singing to your hens or playing music to them make the hens feel better then why not?"

Rebecca Long, buying manager for Asda, said: “We champion innovation and best practice in hen welfare, so playing music, especially songs by Ed Sheeran it seems, to help keep hens relaxed is great.”

Top ten egg-laying tunes

Yolko Ono - Give Beaks A Chance

Cluck Berry - You Can't Hatch Me

Feather Small - Perch For The Hero

Egg Sheeran - Little Bird

Dean Martin - How D'Ya Like Your Eggs In The Morning

Splitting Image - The Chicken Song

Smashing Pumpkins - Egg

Johnny Cash - Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog

The Tweets - Birdie Song

New Order - Shell Shock