What time do your chickens roost in teh summer.

[Barred Rock Boy]

I want to put a light in my chicken pen but I don't know when to turn it off at night, do any of you?

 

[Chicken Girl1]

My flock goes in always at dusk.

 

[aart]

They go in at dusk....the 'time' changes throughout the 'summer'....and the rest of the year.

Why do you ask...what is your goal with the light?

 

[Barred Rock Boy]

When I put the light on I want to turn it off a little after they usually go to bed. If I turn it on too long I'm worried it might conflict with their natural roosting habits.

 

[Deckgirls]

if you decide to use artificial lighting it should turn on in the MORNING before the sun rises rather than at night when its time to roost. with it being turned on at night it could cause issues with roosting etc. i've always read to have it turn on early like 2 hours before sunrise

 

[aart]

When I put the light on I want to turn it off a little after they usually go to bed. If I turn it on too long I'm worried it might conflict with their natural roosting habits.

Why do you need a light in there at all....what is the goal of having light?

 

[Barred Rock Boy]

So they lay all through the winter.

 

[aart]

It is best to have the lighting come on early in the morning, so they can go to roost with the natural sunset.
It's a little late in the year to start supplemental lighting and sometimes first year layers will lay all winter without supplemental lighting, sometimes they won't.
Older layers need 14-16 hours of light to lay regularly thru winter.
Lighting should be ramped up slowly, sudden drastic changes in lights can have undesired effects.
Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.