Chicken daylight

[James Higson]

How many hours of daylight does a hen need I have a shed with a light in so how many hours should I have artifical
Light on for

 

[pwiker]

Straight answer? Do not light them longer than 16 total hours. Most estimates run between 14 and 16 hours.

However, lighting them is really only required for production and if you are not too worried about how productive your chickens are, you don't need to light them at all.

 

[tripletfeb]

At least 14 hours if you want them to keep laying in the winter. Lights on in the early morning seems to be better than plunging them in darkness after the sun has gone down. I have a timer set up in my coop to come on at 3:00 am.