Artificial lighting for poultry

[416bigbore]

I was curious if anyone uses artificial lighting for their poultry during the shorter winter daylight hours to keep their egg production numbers up ?

If so, how do you go about doing it, lighting on a timer? Is the colder temps a factor also? I am just curious.

 

[Isaac 0]

Artificial lighting in poultry flocks, specifically in flocks with birds that are bred for egg production, does artificially increase their egg production, but sometimes it simultaneously may increase the likely hood of individual birds developing reproductive disorders such as Egg yolk peritonitis, ovarian cancer, ascites, among others. I personally think it's best the birds have time during the winter to take a break for egg production.

 

[RainbowHen]

I also allow my birds to take a break in the winter to prolong their lives. I have heard that you can have 8-10 hours of light in their coop to encourage laying but not force it, however I do not know if this is fact

 

[416bigbore]

I have noticed within our small young flock just starting to lay eggs for their first time. Our four Isa Brown hens are really consistent with 4 eggs a days stating between 7:00am and finishing up no later then 10:30am.

Out of our eight Duck hens, our two smaller Mallards hens are usually good for two eggs each morning between the same time as the chickens.

A few of our bigger Pekin/Rouen mixed hens have started to lay larger white eggs, about three now each morning.

It's not that we count on any of them for their eggs, I just didn't know if artificial light played that big of part in how consistently they keep laying each morning with shorter daylight hours?

If a seasonal break in egg production is a good thing for them, I am all for it.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Correct me if i am
Wrong here , each duck has as many eggs as she will ever have at birth, yes? So allowing her to lay as she feels fit as opposed to boosting her productivity artificially will mean she lays to an older age than she would have otherwise?
personally i would rather wait but i didnt get into it for egg production.

 

[416bigbore]

https://animals.mom.com/number-eggs-given-chicken-its-life-cycle-9646.html

 

[416bigbore]

So if a Hen can make and lay one egg every 24-26 hours, how will she slow down in production. One egg every two days or will she quit laying all together for the winter months?

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Runners laid from end of August at 4.5 months old and didn’t stop for 18 months that was with no artificial lighting. So they laid straight through winter.

 

[416bigbore]

My Runners laid from end of August at 4.5 months old and didn’t stop for 18 months that was with no artificial lighting. So they laid straight through winter.

Is breed a big factor also with consistent egg production?

 

[Isaac 0]

Is breed a big factor also with consistent egg production?

Yes.