Anyone not using light to up egg production?

[ams3651]

i read its not good for them in the long run and that making sure they have greens thru the winter can help. Im trying that, they do have a heat lamp over the water but its a red lamp.

 

[Katy]

I don't use light since I think they deserve their natural vacation.

 

[ginbart]

I don't use a light, I have 7 RIR's, 2 Sex Links and 2 I don't know what they are but I still get 6 to 8 eggs a day and that gives me enougth to sell to make money to buy their feed and a couple we eat on Sunday.

I couldn't give them any light anyway the barn is about 50 yards away from the house and it has on power. LOL But I wouldn't use it anyway.

 

[waynesgarden]

The idea that a short day in winter is "natural" is subjective at best. A "natural" day length hera in Maine is not the same length as one in Alaska or one Florida. My "chickens' "natural" day length here in Maine is far shorter than their cousins' down in Equador where they are getting 12 hours of natural light right now.

Where did this idea come from that there is a "natural" day length for chickens? The day length is only "natural" for the latitude where you reside and the time of year.

Wayne

 

[ibpboo]

I do not use light. I have different ages of hens. I use my eggs for my family and do not sell them. Some times I have over abundance of eggs sometimes very few. My 6 year old hens are not laying right now, but my 8 month old ones are and I have two 6 month old hens that just started laying a few days ago. It's a personal preference whether to have lights on or not. And as Wayne said, depends on how many daylight hours you actually have depending on where you live.

 

[NYREDS]

There's nothing "natural" about the whole process of keeping chickens. We have taken birds from their natural environment & selectively bred them to fill whatever our need is [meat, eggs &/or exhibition]. What we are left with are domesticated fowl that are totally unequipped to survive w/o our support.
If you need for whatever reason to produce more eggs in the winter then lengthening the birds day is the way to go. If you don't need to produce more eggs then don't but this is a practical decision not a moral one.

 

[bluey]

I don't use a light...I guess I'm just not that hard up for a few extra eggs here and there. My girls are laying real well so far after a month of short days and cold nights....

 

[BeardedChick]

I don't up the light. So we have fewer eggs, I'm just working on hatching more chickens.

 

[waynesgarden]

Quote:
Again, subjective. Are you implying a moral superiority over those ("hard-up?") individuals who use lights to lengthen their day length slightly?

I don't think you are more right or wrong than anyone else. (Except, perhaps, factory farmers that manipulate light to the extreme.)

Just curious.

Wayne

 

[greyhorsewoman]

Agree with waynesgarden

The idea that a short day in winter is "natural" is subjective at best. A "natural" day length hera in Maine is not the same length as one in Alaska or one Florida. My "chickens' "natural" day length here in Maine is far shorter than their cousins' down in Equador where they are getting 12 hours of natural light right now.

Where did this idea come from that there is a "natural" day length for chickens? The day length is only "natural" for the latitude where you reside and the time of year.

Wayne

and NYREDS

There's nothing "natural" about the whole process of keeping chickens. We have taken birds from their natural environment & selectively bred them to fill whatever our need is [meat, eggs &/or exhibition]. What we are left with are domesticated fowl that are totally unequipped to survive w/o our support.
If you need for whatever reason to produce more eggs in the winter then lengthening the birds day is the way to go. If you don't need to produce more eggs then don't but this is a practical decision not a moral one.

Was thinking these exact thoughts as I read through this thread. We add light only in the morning, so our chickens 'get up' at 4am. They roost naturally when the sun goes down. There isn't anything 'natural' about keeping chickens in a coop, feeding them prepared feeds, and limiting their range. Maybe the cost of feed vs. egg production is of no consequence to some of you, but it is to me.​