artificial lighting in the winter?

[chickenman17]

Should I put a light in my coop with a timer during the winter months so they will lay better when there isn't 14 hours of sunlight?

 

[oldorchardfarm]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=592279 this link should help, i use a grow light and ave had no egg roduction loss in 15 years.

 

[partsRheavy]

Yes! Use an outdoor-rated timer with lights set for early AM.

"Good Morning!!!!! (Chicken keeper rolls over in bed and hides under blankets despite rooster crowing out in henhouse at 4:30 AM as lights come on with timer.)

It's some early hour......chicken keeper is sleepy! (Rolls over in bed again)

Lights instruction to chickens: Y'all wake up, eat your Layena, lay an egg or two, and the lazy chicken keeper will see you in a couple hours and let you go forage after the REAL sun is up.."....

Egg production is about 1.5X what it was before lights were installed.

 

[Judy]

Some feel they should be allowed to take a break from laying as they would naturally, and others provide light. I have done both. I know of no research to indicate that adding light is or is not better for them in the long run. It's really a personal choice.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Even with lights, the hens will take a break from laying while they molt, at least mine always have. Lights do not keep them laying and not molting.

 

[MarieNC]

I tried putting supplemental light in the morning for the girls, and they made up for it by going to bed two hours early, while it was still sunny out! I guess they were telling me they need their beauty sleep and they'll get it despite my best efforts!

 

[woodmort]

I've used it for 26 years with no noticeable ill effects. The argument that it doesn't allow the hens time to "rest" from laying doesn't hold water since those chickens kept in areas where the daylight is a constant year around don't seem to be adversely effected. If they don't want to lay, they won't regardless of the time or year or amount of daylight. In colder climates it is good to get your birds up, moving around and eating rather than huddled on the roost in the cold and dark. As long as the number of "daylight" hours is not excessive--14 seems to be the best--you shouldn't have a problems.

 

[chickenman17]

Ok so if i did do it what hours would i set the timer on and where do i get a timer? Thanks

 

[smokeykk]

I haven't used a timer or artificial light ever, even though this is my first winter with chickens. 5 of my 7 are laying but, one of them is a silkie. She lays every other day, and our RIR and NH lay every day. We usually get 3-4 eggs a day but todays the first day we got 5! I was so eggcited looking in the nest box and seeing 5 eggs!!!