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

[BigBlueHen53]

@BigBlueHen53

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

Thanks, Ted, I'll look into it.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I need so much though. I want a camera out there, like maybe a Ring camera, and would really love to have (don't laugh!) a baby monitor so I can HEAR if my chickens holler for any reason. My house is a stone fortress, I can't hear anything when I'm inside.

 

[azygous]

I had solar panels installed on my roof a few years ago. I've since been amazed at how efficient they are. They begin producing power even before the sun fully is up, and they even sometimes continue to produce after the sun goes down when there are the right high clouds to reflect the residual light. Even overcast days are usually no deterrence to the panels grabbing enough solar radiation to make electricity.

Don't wait, though, until the prices double next year due to tariffs.

 

[Ted Brown]

I need so much though. I want a camera out there, like maybe a Ring camera, and would really love to have (don't laugh!) a baby monitor so I can HEAR if my chickens holler for any reason. My house is a stone fortress, I can't hear anything when I'm inside.

Neither a camera nor a baby monitor use much electricity.

"Solar power bank" that allow multiple USB connections start at $50... Baby monitors & cameras with usb charging are common. Total is climbing toward $500 but doable.

 

[Ted Brown]

One week of 12 hour light is done, will increase to 12 1/2 hours tonight.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My chickens are getting 12 hours now and I've gotten 9 and 10 eggs on several days ( this my represent all my viable layers). It took about 3-4 weeks to get up to this level of production. I did not increase the light gradually, just started adding an extra 2 hours all at once. I'm also getting pullet eggs, which I can identify by size and/or novel colors.

 

[Ted Brown]

I have an egg from one of my June hatch mixed (Chant over Barred Rock) pullets.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have an egg from one of my June hatch mixed (Chant over Barred Rock) pullets.

 

[Folly's place]

This year I started much later than usual, mid-November, rather than late September/ early October. So, with a total of28 (!) hens and pullets, we were down to three or four eggs daily, and are now up to ten to twelve eggs daily. At least some of the pullet eggs are getting bigger, and the oldest hens are pretty much done producing eggs anyway.
Right now the light is on 3am to 8am every morning, and the erratic light bulb has been replaced finally.
The flock has been locked in for a few days, because there's snow on the ground, and they hate walking in it anyway. Tomorrow it's going to snow a bit, so we'll see, at least it isn't going to be 5F like it was this morning!
Mary