2 Barred rock hens haven't laid an egg since mid December???

[Fred's Hens]

They need 14 hours of light per day to stimulate egg production. Use a LOW wattage bulb about 15-30 watts. Too much light may turn them into cannibals. Many people suggest using a red light so that the chickens can not tell if the others are showing wounds. They will start laying in a week or two. Enjoy!

The commercial hen factories use the 14 hour rule. However. a first year pullet, of a laying breed, rarely, rarely needs 14 hours of light, as the previous poster mentioned of their Leghorn. Most production strains will lay just fine through their first pullet winter season without much if any supplemental light. The out years? That will be a different story. Just as a side note, chickens nearer the equator, such as Africa, Hawaii, Brazil, Thailand, etc, NEVER get 14 hours of natural light, yet they lay very, very well.

The use of supplemental lighting, to force laying, is a husbandry decision. Some folks do, other folks don't. Lighting isn't for everyone.

 

[crazypetlady]

Clucky Jas why is that yolk in your pix so dark, did you feed them something different or is it from a special kind of chicken. ?

 

[HiddenHens987]

Thanks for all the advice. They have finished their molt as of 3 weeks ago or so. Combs are a pinkish red, similar to a rose or a medium dark grapefruit but they are not as red as over the summer so it clear by that they are not ready.

I did buy a floresent light fixture yesterday from lowes. It has a T5 bulb that is 24 watts and is about 3 feet long. I think it should do the trick quite nicely. I'll probably leave it on till about 7pm or so and this will give about 1 hour 40 minutes extra light.

 

[jennykpna]

My barred rock layed well from September 2014-March 2015. Hasn't laid since and is getting tons of light with long summer days now. July. Bright red comb, not molting, oyster shell offered. We added a dewormer to the feed. Nothing! She seems healthy and is a beautiful specimen. Not sure what is up, long time with no eggs. Born March 2014. Not too old to lay