First night of 13-14 hour "day" light...

[Ted Brown]

[Struggled to physically install timed light in coop. Finished install yesterday but timer on was 12 hours off; pondering... My wrong setting of timer resolved. The timer has a 24 hour dial with a fixed pointer inside; pointer can be installed in either of two ways; I had it backwards so lights came on in the PM not AM.]

Interesting 1st overnight:

• Of course I confirmed that light came on when I was up in the middle
• Again early morning outside to look & fetch wood.
• Flock standing/sitting around on roosts & floor; no movement 4 hours into their first 16 hour day. (I reminded myself that “light exposure to pineal/pituitary” is what matters.)

Now to see if egg production increases (currently < doz/week)...

 

[azygous]

What are you using for lights? Here's a couple of tips. You don't need much wattage. I use a rope light.

Another tip. It's best to incrementally increase the length of light for a couple weeks to more closely mimic the natural lengthening of daylight. And sixteen hours is overkill. You only need two hours of extra light each night. It's best to have your timer come on two hours before sunrise so the chickens aren't stranded off their perch.

 

[aart]

I had it backwards so lights came on in the PM not AM.

Ooops!

16 hours night be a bit much, 14 is plenty....and remember it's not like 'flipping a switch', it could take a couple weeks for the eggs to appear.

 

[Ted Brown]

What are you using for lights? Here's a couple of tips. You don't need much wattage. I use a rope light.

Another tip. It's best to incrementally increase the length of light for a couple weeks to more closely mimic the natural lengthening of daylight. And sixteen hours is overkill. You only need two hours of extra light each night. It's best to have your timer come on two hours before sunrise so the chickens aren't stranded off their perch.

Much appreciated. I will reset for 2 hours before sunrise. I see @aart above also suggests less light.

I am using a "4' LED Shop Light" on sale for under $10, 58 watts, 5000 lumens.

I guessed this is a process not an event,

 

[Ted Brown]

... It's best to have your timer come on two hours before sunrise so the chickens aren't stranded off their perch.

I knew to add light at the beginning of the day to avoid "stranding".

 

[Ted Brown]

@azygous (et al of course)

I much prefer 2 hours - both hens & energy consumption perspectives.

I saw an article saying

• if daylight is < 12hrs change to 12 immediate
• increment an hour/week to 13-14
• thereafter do not change

I get <dozen/wk from ~25 hens incl 7 five+ mo pullets; any increase = better.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I add two hours of light to my coop in the evening, and so far nobody's been stranded, but we turn the light off by hand, does that make a difference? I'll have to ask DH if he has to put anybody on the roost by hand when he turns the light off. I am NOT getting out of bed at 5 am or earlier to go out there and turn the light on! I will not get those two hours of sleep back! And the coop is not wired for electricity.

 

[Ted Brown]

@BigBlueHen53

Light from solar easy; with timer, no need to get up.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@BigBlueHen53

Light from solar easy; with timer, no need to get up.

Thanks, Ted. Don't know if the daylight wd get around here would be adequate, we're often socked in with clouds. It's raining here right now ...

 

[Ted Brown]

@BigBlueHen53

The technologies of phones/computers & solar & batteries gets better & CHEAPER almost everyday. You might be surprised (& better for it).