README.md

For more information see DefaultModel Trait in Laravel 4.

DefaultsModel.php

<?php

trait DefaultsModel {

    /**
     * Default values to seed the model with
     * @var Array
     */
    protected $defaults = array();

    /**
     * Pre-fill default values in the model
     */
    public function fillDefaults(array $attributes = array())
    {
        // Check if `defaults` is a method or property
        // If it is a method, execute it otherwise just grab the value
        $defaults = (method_exists($this, 'defaults')) ? $this->defaults() : $this->defaults;

        // Merge defaults values
        $attributes = array_merge($defaults, $attributes);

        // Pass the merged attributes up the hierarchy
        parent::__construct($attributes);
    }

}

EntryModel.php

<?php

class Entry extends Eloquent {

    use DefaultsModel;

    public function __construct(array $attributes = array())
    {
        $this->fillDefaults($attributes);
    }

    /**
     * The database table used by the model.
     * @var String
     */
    protected $table = 'entries';

    /**
     * Get the default attribute values
     * @return  Array
     */
    protected function defaults()
    {
        return array(
            'pubdate' => \Carbon\Carbon::now()
        );
    }

    /**
     * Get Date type fields
     * @return Array
     */
    public function getDates()
    {
        // Add `pubdate` to the list of Carbon date attributes
        return array_merge(
            parent::getDates(),
            array(
                'pubdate'
            )
        );
    }
}