Are our girls worn out already?

[Folly's place]

I'm not sure. I start 4am to 8am sooner, as in mid September.
Mary

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

We were seeing fewer eggs when the TX blast furnace started up this summer. Is this because the hens expend their body energy cooling themselves?

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

We saw that too. But I figured out that ice cubes melted over pellets makes a cold slurry that our girls just love. Egg production went back up.

Downside is adding new ice cubes every hour or so, all day long!

 

[Flashpoint]

Just wanted to note that I have two hens - both 8 years old - who are still laying approx 3 eggs a week each. One is a Buff Orpington and the other is a large white Silkie.

 

[BullChick]

The downside to supplementing light is that you’re messing with nature. Molting allows the body to rest, and heal. Also, once they begin laying again after the first molt, the eggs are bigger.
A hen’s comb pales as the year goes on. After a rest, it’s a healthy red again. The rejuvenation is more apparent in ducks. Their bills and feet get pale.

 

[slordaz]

Mine produce without adding light even in the frigid northern winters, see a small reduction in eggs, but they sure get demanding for meal worms when there aren't any bugs to be found. 7 hens winter time production is still usually 3-4 a day and they are 2.75 years old Spring through fall molt they are 6-7 a day

 

[Flashpoint]

I don't supplement light anymore. I have when I had no choice but not because of wanting eggs. Instead, I now have chickens who will lay throughout the winter and those who will start in the spring. I'm all for giving them a rest.

 

[slordaz]

I don't supplement light anymore. I have when I had no choice but not because of wanting eggs. Instead, I now have chickens who will lay throughout the winter and those who will start in the spring. I'm all for giving them a rest.

My hens are pretty good, they stay with the eggs until another one comes to lay and that one stays with eggs in the winter until I get out to gather them, I've only lost 1 days laid eggs in almost 2 years with the way they do that, so hoping they teach the new pullets too

 

[Flashpoint]

My hens are pretty good, they stay with the eggs until another one comes to lay and that one stays with eggs in the winter until I get out to gather them, I've only lost 1 days laid eggs in almost 2 years with the way they do that, so hoping they teach the new pullets too

Right now I have several different breeds. Light Brahmas, Black Jersey Giants, Speckled Sussex, Dominiques, Columbian Wyandottes, Buff Orpington, the Silkie, California Whites, some Australorp/Wyandotte crosses, along with 3 ducks and 8 turkeys. I don't think I will run out of eggs anytime soon.


Altogether, about 40 birds. That's just the birds.

 

[aart]

OK, we got some new hens today and I set up lighting in the coop on a timer. I have it set for 6 - 8 AM. That would be about 13 hours of light. The CEO, my wife, says I should taper back up to 16 hours a day. Personally, I think it would be good to go right to 16 now.

What do y'all think? Should I taper back up to 16 hrs of light?

Did you add new hens to the old ones?
How old, in months, are the new hens?
Stress from moving and integration can cause a cessation of lay.

16 hours is too much, IMO, 14 is plenty.
Increasing light all at once can work, decreasing it will shut things down.
Using lights is not like flipping a switch(haha!) on the egg machine,
there are many other things to consider.