24/7 light bulb in coop (what if?)

[joebryant]

What would happen with the chickens if I put a low-wattage light in the coop and left it on 24 hours everyday. Would they continue to lay, go to roost at a normal time, sleep normally, etc. ?
Note: They have a very large window that they can look out from their roost to see whether or not it's day or night outside.

 

[zatsdeb]

I am not sure about how low wattage would keep them laying, I know if they don't get to rest in the winter time and slow down their egg production it will shorten their lives, and the years of laying eggs. it is hard on them to lay year round.
I did read about putting lights on a timer to give them more daylight hours, and having it go off at night.

 

[Chicabee19]

Dunno

Someone who had lights on at night said her chickens were annoyed and irritable.

 

[chickiebaby]

Considering this is one of the best ways to torture humans, I don't know how they'd go for it. . . think it might drive them mad?

 

[swtangel321]

I have heard mixed things about this.... Some do it and say its great !! I know my husbands mother did it years ago b/c she said it "tricked" the hens to lay more !! But they do need a break to be healthy!!! I wouldn't do it.... only b/c it can make them cranky and they could also start to peck, if you want a little light in the coop you could add a red light or red heat light (that would give them a little but the red doesnt screw them up as much) chickens do like the dark and I would think that would screw up there night time plans.

 

[gritsar]

Every living creature, human or otherwise, needs periods of dark and light.
If having year round high production of eggs is real important to you, add the light. Just keep in mind that your hens will "burn out" faster and you'll be replacing them sooner.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

14 hours is the max you want to go before you start stressing them out.

Now if its a heat lamp for one or two nights when its extremely cold, thats one thing, but a constant light 24/7 isn't healthy for them at all.

 

[cmom]

I leave a Red 11 watt sign light bulb on 24/7. They still go into their coop in the evening like clockwork. Once in awhile I go out early am and check on my girls and they are snoozing away on their roost. They all lay most every day.

 

[jasonak]

Is there a reason your leaving the light on 24 hours? You can get a timer fairly cheap.

 

[debilorrah]

We have a light that goes on at 4 am and then anther one at 6 pm, and they are not laying any better than if we didnt have the lights. at first they did, but now???? 3 eggs a day max and we have 6 laying hens.