16 hours of light a day?

[NatJ]

In my Purina pamphlet that came with my chics 16 weeks ago...

Thanks for the pictures! I was able to find the pamphlet online to download and read. It does appear to be a reasonable guide for one way of raising backyard chickens. Lots of people do things a little differently, but I think we tend to recommend most of the same things that pamphlet recommends.

it states I should provide light for the hens now. At least 16 hours a day for egg laying. Any advice?

It says to provide light (16 hours per day), starting at 16 weeks old. It also says to expect the first egg around 18-20 weeks. Those two things probably go together: the extra light tells their bodies it's spring, so a few weeks later you start getting eggs. They do mention putting the lights on a timer, so the schedule is consistent, which that is a very good idea if you are going to use lights.

Some people say not to add lights, because the chickens' bodies need a natural "rest" in the winter. Yours haven't done any laying yet, so I don't think they need a rest.

Some people say not to add lights because you don't want the pullets to lay "too early," which could be bad for them. But if they were raised at a different time of year the days would naturally be that long, and they would start laying at an equally young age. So I don't think it's a big deal either way.

Some people just don't want to bother with lights, and their chickens are fine but don't lay as many eggs during the winter months.

If eggs are important to you, lights are probably best. If the chickens are just fun pets and you want to keep things simple, feel free to skip the lights.

I just started them on egg laying feed.

The pamphlet says to start layer feed at 18 weeks or when you see eggs, not at 16 weeks. They also say to switch away from layer feed any time the hens are molting or when the hens get too old to lay eggs. So if you are trying to follow what the pamphlet says, they should still be on a starter or grower feed at present.

If you do not use supplemental light, and they take longer to start laying, then it might be quite some time before they need the layer feed.

 

[PDXJULES]

My 4 Breeds, hatched end of May - all started laying the last 2 weeks of OCT...magic week 20....with 12 hr of light. they are almost all daily layers now, in the darkest month of the year with less than 12 hrs. Be SURE yours get at least 8 hrs total darkness for rest. We use a 40 Watt bulb for morning light on a timer ...but 25 Watt should be enough. Be sure fresh water and food are in the Coop and enough space so they have something to do - before getting outside at dawn.

They really are ready to roost at darkness at nightfall, so we decided not to add light in the evenings after trying it at first. Our Pullet Breeds are Barred Rock, Exchequer Leghorn, RIR, and Jersey Giant. Did not switch to layer feed and side calcium shells til the first Red began laying. They demand greens every day - and get other treats in season, and in moderation only after they've had their complete feed. 16 hrs is too much light this season, IMO...if they can't be out foraging normally.

 

[Acre4Me]

We add lights in the fall winter. On a timer. We have enough light from one bulb that you could read the newspaper, but it’s not bright like an overhead room light -maybe it’s 40-60 watt? Our light is mounted on the upper wall a few feet away from the roosts. Our timer is set up to turn the lights on early morning and they turn off around mid morning. We do not add supplemental light in the evening. Water is in the coop in the winter. If it is especially cold, they get feed in their coop, otherwise we bring it to the run in the morning.

we have a mixed age flock, some are approaching 3 years old, youngest are 3 months old. Many molted Aug-Oct, and are just beginning to think about laying again which means that they had a 2 month break. The pullets will lay through their first winter generally, even without supplemental light, which is why many keepers add chicks every spring so they get some eggs in the winter.

Overall, my experience is that you will have a reduction in eggs during the late fall/winter irregardless of added light. My birds seem to lay less frequently, but will still lay with added light. Somebreeds lay better in cold weather, others don’t. Maybe they lay less bc they are inside and outside the coop and not in a 100% controlled environment, plus, we only add light in the am. And they will not lay when molting!