artificially extending daylight hours in the coop

[omelay]

has anyone had any luck with putting a timed light in their coop to get their chickens laying again? last winter i put a timed light in my coop during the fall to keep the daylight hours and tricking the chickens to keep laying. it seemed to work they only dropped production a little bit. this year they are in a new coop that is insulated and comparably warm. i didn't bother with the timed light for several reasons--one being no electricity down there.

about a week ago i ran electricity to the coop and put in a timed light. i have yet to see a change in their egg production. the light comes on at 5:30 am and off after 7:00am and sunrise. then in the evening the light comes on before dusk and stays on until 7:30. i guess their internal clocks aren't resetting that easily.

i am sure that this has probably been covered but i am new and could use some advise.

my next step is to attempt to supply them with warm water during the day.

k-)

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

More light & turn on the laying pellets, you should have eggs in no time. Unless they're molting, too old, or sick.

 

[E.G.Glayer]

I have done that before successfully. If it has only been a week since you added the timer and light it may just take a little longer for their bodies to adjust to the new conditions. I think the length of day affects them more than the cold. Once they have adjusted to the short daylight hours with no additoional lighting it will probably just take them a few extra days to reacclimate for you. I wouldnt worry things never seem to work as fast as we want them to.

 

[Kenneth Flippen]

not sure where you are located 5:30 is not early enough where I'm at I think 16 hours of day light to start laying for most chickens. I have better luck with 17 or 18hrs most will 1 a day.


Kenneth Flippen

 

[sonew123]

well sheesh..Out of 35 hens I got 7 eggs today and I just said to DH the lights are going back on tonight! so I did in the big coop. I sell hatching eggs outta that coop and when production goes way down like that-

they dont realize it pays for their food! and not to mention all their treats. So for now the light stays on 24/7-its a heating light bulb anyway so they enjoyed sunbathing under it when its 10 below and 40 in the coop!

 

[greathorse]

When i have done that it seems to take about 3 weeks to see the change, it is a bit gradual as well.

 

[1acrefarm]

Give it a couple more weeks. Be sure between the artificial light and the sunlight they are getting at least 14 hours of light.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

It helps to increase the amount of light gradually, otherwise it seems to confuse them. You may notice an increase in production by adding the light all at once, but they can hit an artificial peak and not reach their full potential. I'd add 30 minutes a week until you reach the production you are after. Give them several weeks to get there.

 

[greathorse]

great information Mac

 

[chicks4kids]

I have light on for 12 hours a day and am just about at the same level I am during the summer. Before I added light (because I thought I wouldn't), I would be lucky to get 1 or 2 eggs a day, now I'm up to 12, which is normal for the summertime days.