Artificial lighting?

[Pokes79]

How much lighting is required to keep quail/chickens laying in the winter? Would a couple strings of white christmas lights running through the coop or quail pen work?

 

[kingmt]

14 hours is what I've heard on here.

There is a few people on this form that are using Christmas lights.

 

[shelleyd2008]

You need the equivalent to 1 candle flame for 14 hours a day for chickens, I'm not sure of brightness for quail. The christmas lights should work fine.

 

[Kullas]

Quote:
Here ya go

 

[JJMR794]

I'm Using A String Of The Mini X-mas Lights And It Works Fine--- Got 'em On A Dusk Timer/ Photocell That Turns Them On At Dusk And I Have The Time Off Set For 6 Hrs Later--- Egg Production Started Up On Day 3 And Still Climbing...

 

[wilds of pa]

Its all about enough light to be able to feed, if they can see to eat they will lay well.. I would stay with 14 to 16 hours of artificial and natural lighting combined.
Have your artificial light come on early in the morning and go off when the sun rises fully, that way at bed time they don't get stranded on the floor and can roost with sun down. works well for quail that like to roost in addition to chooks

 

[kingmt]

My chickens go to bed long before the lights go out.

 

[jaybeeson18]

Can I use a normal light bulb in a shed?

 

[dc3085]

This thread contains a lot more info on proper lighting. It's the spectrum of light that they see that is important so make sure that whatever light you use is full spectrum.