Chickens not laying yet... should I add supplemental light?

[spiritpots]

I am new to raising chickens and picked up my four girls (2 Orpingtons, 1 Maran and 1 Brown Leghorn) from a local breeder in mid-May and was told they were approximately 6-8 weeks old. They had most of their feathers at the time. If that age was correct they should be about 6 months old now. The Brown Leghorn (see sweet Isabella below) is the most mature-looking as far as comb and wattle go. The comb and wattle on two of the others are starting to get a bit red but the smallest Orpington's are still pale. I live in Minnesota and the days are getting shorter (less than 12 hours of daylight now) and I'm wondering since it looks like it will be a while yet before any start laying should I add some supplemental lighting? My plan was that once the girls were laying I wasn't going to use any additional lighting and just let them follow their natural cycle. However, since there are now less than 14 hours of daylight (which I've read is the amount needed for egg production) if I don't add extra light now will they not lay until spring? I have started to add some layer feed to their grower feed as I have read here that it is recommended to do so at around 20 weeks regardless if laying has begun. If I misunderstood this please let me know. Thanks for any feedback... I truly appreciate it!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They are old enough but after summer solstice, it is a gamble when they will start laying.
Check the distance between the pointy pelvic bones. Over 2 finger width and laying may be imminent. If it is less, they aren't sexually mature. As you know, day length contributes to sexual maturity. If you want eggs soon, I would add light on a timer.

 

[spiritpots]

Thank you, @ChickenCanoe. I checked their pubic bones a few days ago and all but the small Orpington are 2 fingers in width. I'll add some lights and see how that goes!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you slowly increment light to above 12 hours a day, so it comes on around 5am. It can go off at dawn since they will be outside by then. You may have eggs in the next couple weeks.

 

[aart]

Keep careful track of timer, you don't want daylight hours to decrease again.

Wonders if it's better just to jack the light up to 13-14 hours all at once?
Any detrimental effects from that @ChickenCanoe?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Keep careful track of timer, you don't want daylight hours to decrease again.

Wonders if it's better just to jack the light up to 13-14 hours all at once?
Any detrimental effects from that @ChickenCanoe?

I have done that but incremental changes may be more effective in affecting the pineal gland and stimulation of the gonads. If I add light these days, I add a half hour every 5 days or so.

 

[spiritpots]

I appreciate your help with this! Yes @aart, I was planning on continuing to adjust the timer as needed to provide 14 hours of light. And thank you @ChickenCanoe for the guide of how slowly to increase the light. Is it recommended then that I continue with the supplemental light all winter this year and then next year perhaps let the chickens follow a more natural pattern of slower egg production during the winter months? From what I've read if I don't add light now they will probably not start laying until next spring. Am I understanding correctly?

 

[aart]

I have done that but incremental changes may more be more effective in affecting the pineal gland and stimulation of the gonads. If I add light these days, I add a half hour every 5 days or so.

So, not sure if all at once is detrimental.
Why would ramping be more effective...more 'natural', yes, but more effective?

 

[aart]

Is it recommended then that I continue with the supplemental light all winter this year and then next year perhaps let the chickens follow a more natural pattern of slower egg production during the winter months?

That would be up to you. Doing it this year and not next year probably doesn't matter to birds.

From what I've read if I don't add light now they will probably not start laying until next spring. Am I understanding correctly?

It's hard to say when you pullets will start laying without supplemental lighting,
but probably not until days lengthen after solistice...how long after is hard to predict also.