Artificial light in So AZ?

[azqhcowgirl]

I have owned chickens before and always had good layers without the use of artificial light.

Early this spring I purchased 6 chicks and 4 have turned out to be pullets: an americauna, a cuckoo marans, a golden cuckoo marans and a buff orpington. They are all right around 6 months old. No eggs yet! The roos have started crowing in the last 2-3 weeks.

I was reading that americaunas stop laying in the winter and I was wondering if it would be beneficial to use some kind of artificial light. I live in southern AZ. I recently purchased a few st. run americauna chicks hoping to get a few more pullets. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks all )

 

[aoxa]

I personally feel to go the o-natural way and avoid extra lighting during the winter months. It gives them time to have a break, and they don't burn out as quickly.

PS: Ameraucanas does not have an i in it. You likely got them from a hatchery correct? She would be an Easter Egger.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hello from a fellow southern Arizonan and welcome to BYC! I've done both--no light and light with the breeds you have. The addition of light definitely helped increase production, but I don't think I'll do it this winter. As aoxa noted, the break is good for them for the long run. Without additional hours of light your birds will slow down, but they probably won't stop laying completely, especially since they are so young (my first year birds all laid fairly well through their first winters here in AZ). Your birds should be laying very soon. Are their combs starting to turn more red? Do they squat when you walk by them? Our high temperatures during this past week (and for the foreseeable future) have been brutal. The heat is just about as bad as short days here at reducing their laying.

Be sure to drop by and say hello on our fun and active Arizona thread.

 

[azqhcowgirl]

Thank you all for the information. I purchased my ameracaunas from a breeder, I just misspelled it. I am sorry. I did not mean any offence to the ameracauna breeders and lovers out there.

They don't squat when I walk by, they just stand there and cluck, waiting for their veggies. LOL Yes, their combs are starting to darken up.

I have decided to pass on the artificial light as I want to do what is best for my girls. )

Thanks again for the wonderful advise!

azqhcowgirl