Choosing not to increase light for laying?

[Reinbeau]

I've only got one out of fourteen laying right now, it's dark and cold, and it's time for their winter rest. Many are still growing feathers like crazy. I am all for letting things happen according to the seasons. I've also got a source of local farm fresh eggs to keep me going through the drought.

 

[Andi]

Quote:
I agree wholeheartedly!

Although I've heard egg laying is tied to daylight length, I have to wonder if its actually reduced egg production as a result of stress brought about by the colder conditions because of the shorter days. The chickens are putting more energy into surviving than egg production. For those adding more hours of light are also inadvertently adding warmth to the chickens' environment, which reduces stress and increases egg production. Some chickens are better suited to the colder climates and lay more in the Winter months because their bodies naturally aren't as stressed. Just a thought.

That being said, I've also heard that a chicken has a predetermined number of egg cells. The faster she produces them, the sooner she will be done producing eggs, and possibly reduce the life span. I can see how egg producing facilities would want to get as many as soon as they can, but for most of us, our chickens are more than just egg machines.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
There are those that would argue that point, saying that a hen has more "potential eggs" than she will ever use. Well, so do female humans and obviously we don't use all of them either. Would it be healthy for a female human to have a child every time she is capable of doing so? I doubt it.
What it comes down to in my book is simple. Add light, get more eggs per season but the hen is likely to stop laying for good at an earlier age. Don't add light, get less eggs per season, but the hen is likely to keep laying for a longer period over her lifetime.

 

[gsim]

No artificial light here either. They need the rest. I have 24 pullets of nearly 6 months age and get a dozen a day now. I have no reason to push them. One day I got 16, next day a dozen. All not quite yet on board tho. One runt with a bad leg will never likely produce an egg, but she has a home anyway. Would not do for her to get too fat anyhow with the bad leg.

 

[fldiver97]

Have a 40 watt bulb over the waterer but only during daylight hours... just to keep the water from freezing, not to extend the daylight hours. They get maybe 1/2 hour extra right now when I work. I still get some eggs. I don't want to push them into laying.

 

[Amethyste]

I go by what Nature wishes with them in regards to laying. I dont add light to their days...if they decide to lay then yay! If not that is ok as well. They are allowed to take a break, but they better egg up by spring!

Edit: I do have a light tho over the water heater but the birds dont really benefit from it for light. Its only if absolutley needed to keep it from freezing during the day. At night I take the water out and give it to them fresh in the morning for winters.

 

[felidaet]

No lights for me either. After reading many discussions about this topic I decided to let them follow their natural cycle. I am getting more eggs than I expected for this time of year. I am getting 6 - 9 right now. Today I got 6. Each of the last two day I got 9.

I have a friend that has several 5 year old hens. They all still lay at the same rate as they did as pullets! He uses no artificial light. (and he has always used Layena layer pellets.)

 

[melody123]

Since they are your chickens, you can do whatever you want with them. What works for one person, will not work for another. For me, the few hours of christmas lights that I run are worth the extra eggs that I get. Because I do not want to have to eat those grocery store eggs again. But I also cook hot food for my chickens each day on a wood stove to make up for it.

Meanwhile my elderly hen lives where there is no extra light, and she still gives me eggs. I guess all the clean country living on pasture does a chicken good.

This is BYC, we don't judge. If you wanted to give them all individual diapers, move them indoors, and feed them homemade meals 3 times a day, and sleep with them in your bed- we would support you in it.

 

[claud]

I've never added light. Seems only right that they get a break.

I have a 10 yr old hen that still lays in the summer months so she didn't get totally burnt out(maybe no extra light made a difference)?

 

[flakey chick]

Put me down for splitting the difference. I haven't added Xtra light yet this year. I am going to add a few more hours of light starting next week so I can see my girls before they go to bed. If I don't, I become a weekend chicken mom.

I haven't gotten ANY eggs for 6 weeks so I feel my girls have had a break. The last molter is recovering nicely. I don't really expect an xtra 2 hours a day to make a whole lot of difference in the egg department.