Winter lighting for egg production

[Hubert Cumberdale]

Very new to owning laying hens. I've heard people talking about supplement lighting during the winter months to keep hens laying. Its nice to have a constant supply of eggs and all but do the chickens not benefit from a break over the winter? I wouldn't wanna go burning them out, as they're pets more than anything and I've become strangely attached lol

 

[song of joy]

Lighting the coop for egg production really comes down to personal preference. I don't use lighting, as I prefer to give the hens a break in the fall/winter to molt. I usually add a few pullets to the flock each year, so when the older hens stop laying in the fall to molt, the pullets are gearing up to begin laying eggs. It works quite well.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have used lights for 25 years & my chickens molt & take a break when it's time anyway. Don't know why so many think chickens don't molt with lights. If I have a group of 12 they will molt on their own schedule, some molting while others are still laying etc. I light from Aug 15th to May 15th here in SE PA. I was taught to start lighting when we're about to go below 14 hours of daylight. Maybe since they are under declining daylight from June 21st until Aug 15th, this is enough to let them molt naturally. It has worked well for all these years.

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

I have used lights for 25 years & my chickens molt & take a break when it's time anyway. Don't know why so many think chickens don't molt with lights. If I have a group of 12 they will molt on their own schedule, some molting while others are still laying etc. I light from Aug 15th to May 15th here in SE PA. I was taught to start lighting when we're about to go below 14 hours of daylight. Maybe since they are under declining daylight from June 21st until Aug 15th, this is enough to let them molt naturally. It has worked well for all these years.

Cheers for that. As far as I understand, ours won't moult this year, as they're only around 6 months old. Might look into small battery powered led in a timer. We only have four hens in a coup suitable for 6

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

Lighting the coop for egg production really comes down to personal preference. I don't use lighting, as I prefer to give the hens a break in the fall/winter to molt. I usually add a few pullets to the flock each year, so when the older hens stop laying in the fall to molt, the pullets are gearing up to begin laying eggs. It works quite well.

Sounds like a good system. 4 hens is our limit really, due to space.

 

[lazy gardener]

I provide lights here. But, I do my lighting a bit differently from all of the "they said" advice. "They say" to give them their light in the morning, so that they have a normal dusk. "They say" that if you give them supplemental lighting at the end of the day, that your birds will be caught off guard when lights suddenly go out after dark. "They say" to give your birds 14 hours of total light. IF, I followed all of the "they say" advice, my coop light would come on at 2:30 AM. My rooster would start crowing at 2:30 AM. My birds would start laying their first eggs of the day shortly after 2:30 AM. My eggs would all be frozen by the time I got up, had a bite to eat, and went out to the coop to feed and water and gather those first eggs. No thank you.

I let my birds have a natural slow down in the fall. When egg count gets down to the point where I fear running out, and when my customers start begging for more eggs, I start ramping up the light. (Usually starting in late October.) I add 1/2 - 1 hour/week. By the time they are at a 14 hour day, the schedule looks like this: Light on 6:30 - 10:00 AM, and 3:00 - 8:30 PM. I have a solar light near the bulb. When the CFL goes off, the solar light clicks on and gives them a "night light" for a bit. But, honestly, they really don't need the night light. They are always up on the perch before the light goes out at 8:30 PM. They seem to become very well tuned into the light cycle and respond accordingly.

 

[aart]

I have used lights for 25 years & my chickens molt & take a break when it's time anyway. Don't know why so many think chickens don't molt with lights. If I have a group of 12 they will molt on their own schedule, some molting while others are still laying etc. I light from Aug 15th to May 15th here in SE PA. I was taught to start lighting when we're about to go below 14 hours of daylight. Maybe since they are under declining daylight from June 21st until Aug 15th, this is enough to let them molt naturally. It has worked well for all these years.

How many hours light do you give them?


I've used lights 3 of the last 4 winters...with varying results.
Have had them molt in fall, no matter the age.....and wait until spring.
Think I'm going to use them this year, hatched replacement pullets late this year.

 

[runnermom]

I have used lights for 25 years & my chickens molt & take a break when it's time anyway. Don't know why so many think chickens don't molt with lights. If I have a group of 12 they will molt on their own schedule, some molting while others are still laying etc. I light from Aug 15th to May 15th here in SE PA. I was taught to start lighting when we're about to go below 14 hours of daylight. Maybe since they are under declining daylight from June 21st until Aug 15th, this is enough to let them molt naturally. It has worked well for all these years.

What kind of light do you use?

 

[Cindy in PA]

runnermom, I use a metal hood (like used for brooding) with a 40 watt bulb on a lamp timer. I have an 8 by 8 coop & it's wired for electric.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Aart, I use one 40 watt bulb in a reflector hood for my 8 by 8 coop. Have it on a lamp timer goes on around 3 a.m. in winter & off at 8 a.m.