Counting The Costs?

[KettermanHillCoop]

Their digs have me in a hole about $450. Not sure of the total for feeders, feed, oyster shells, grit, bedding...and treats. I do know that when that first egg comes along it will be far more expensive than the $3.49 dozen of Simply Natural Organic Grade A, Cage Free Brown Eggs from Aldi's I just purchased. lol But...they needed a home and I gave them one. They're cool to hang out with so I'm cool with that...

 

[Morrigan]

I'd start a light now, but I'm afraid the hormone shift would result in me having a bunch of broodies in January! So, I'm gonna just wait it out this year. next year, I'll have my bulb shined up and ready to go in November!

That alone is enough to scare me away from supplemental lighting. Last thing I need is for my broodies to start up in December!

 

[lazy gardener]

That alone is enough to scare me away from supplemental lighting. Last thing I need is for my broodies to start up in December!

But, you are basing this statement on a mere possibility that is running around in my head. I have absolutely no fact to base the likelihood of this possibility coming to pass. I have used supplemental lighting successfully every year for the past 4 years, without a single issue with a broody. Typically, I start my lighting in November. In October, I had to break 2 broodies. This was based on completely natural lighting, with diminishing day length, and sub freezing weather. So... to say that supplemental lighting causes broodiness out of season is an erroneous statement.

One could also come up with the thought process: "keeping day length consistent, also keeps hormonal levels on an even keel. So, supplemental lighting is apt to prevent the hormonal shifts that occur in a naturally decreasing/increasing day length." And, those hormonal shifts should be what drives broodiness.

 

[Kusanar]

But, you are basing this statement on a mere possibility that is running around in my head. I have absolutely no fact to base the likelihood of this possibility coming to pass. I have used supplemental lighting successfully every year for the past 4 years, without a single issue with a broody. Typically, I start my lighting in November. In October, I had to break 2 broodies. This was based on completely natural lighting, with diminishing day length, and sub freezing weather. So... to say that supplemental lighting causes broodiness out of season is an erroneous statement.

One could also come up with the thought process: "keeping day length consistent, also keeps hormonal levels on an even keel. So, supplemental lighting is apt to prevent the hormonal shifts that occur in a naturally decreasing/increasing day length." And, those hormonal shifts should be what drives broodiness.

Ultimately, wouldn't the best thing to do be to put floodlights on the run and lights in the coup, have them timed for 12 hours of light based around true noon so that they have the exact same 12 hours all year long? They would turn on early and turn off late in the winter, but at the same time the sun would rise and set in the summer. Could also do it with a light sensor so that once the sun gets bright enough it kicks the lights back off and when it gets dim enough they all come back on.
So the timer controls the 12 hour interval, then the light sensor determines if the lights actually get power when the timer says they should.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have always managed my light with a timer, final schedule after the ramp up is: On at 6:30, off at 10 AM, on again at 2:30, off again at 8:30 PM. As natural day light increases, I gradually shift my timer until the light on time matches the day light schedule. Then I turn it off until the next fall. There are many ways to manage light schedules, and Lots of folks differ in their management. The most important thing is that the lighting be consistent. This is where use of a timer comes in handy. I do not use a light in my run at all b/c I don't want my birds out in the run when local predators are looking for their supper.

 

[Kusanar]

I do not use a light in my run at all b/c I don't want my birds out in the run when local predators are looking for their supper.

That makes sense, but I wonder if the chickens day/night cycles will be messed with by it getting dark outside, they wander inside to go to bed and suddenly it's light again... I know with photo period sensitive plants that you can seriously set yourself back if you so much as point a flashlight in their direction at night. A greenhouse I used to work for grew poinsettias and they had to cardboard up the greenhouse windows while they were in there to keep headlights from being able to shine in at night because any time that happens, you are set back 1 night on the color change.

I know chickens aren't poinsettias, but, I would assume that photo period sensitivity is similar across most lifeforms.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hasn't been an issue that I'm aware of. In the winter, they don't spend much time outside, anyways. They go inside as soon as the sky starts getting darker. Around 3:00. Many days, they are only outside for a couple of hours, depending on the temp and weather.

 

[aart]

but I wonder if the chickens day/night cycles will be messed with by it getting dark outside, they wander inside to go to bed and suddenly it's light again

Probably not, but I do wonder if our timers can only be adjusted by 30m increments if that can screw things up as the duration of light is important, the change in duration is important too.

 

[Minky]

""""Ultimately, wouldn't the best thing to do be to put floodlights on the run and lights in the coup, have them timed for 12 hours of light based around true noon so that they have the exact same 12 hours all year long? They would turn on early and turn off late in the winter, but at the same time the sun would rise and set in the summer. """"

This is what we do. My lights come on at 6am and go off at 9pm. In the summer when that happens naturally, Ill turn them off. But its nice to be getting 4-5 eggs a day from my 5 new layers. Im getting double yokers from two of my Americanuas (or EE?) every other time this week, and one more soft shelled egg- this one was intact, though(if was very neat!!!) and from a different bird.
When I go in to see them in the morning, I may chose to turn off the light (if its a sunny day) but it this midwinter darkness, its nice to have a bright sunny coop when its -15C out there!! I think Ill bring them a bit of Chirstmas music tomorrow to celebrate the end of the start of winter vacation!
I have two birds that are supposed to be 21 weeks, and they are not laying yet. I am getting impatient! One is a Maran, so I am excited to see if her eggs are dark, as my
Barnevelder's aren't as dark as I was hoping.Almost the same color as my Buff Orpington.

Lately Ive started a bad habit of checking on them after my kids are in bed (840 ish) they are all roosting by then (except my Buff O.) she likes the nest box. I go in and move her to the roost- (try and get her to break the habit) but that has created havoc lately. Birds start flying everywhere. Then they think I am giving them oats so they all come down. Then i feel guilty so i give them oats. Then im stuck there while they are eating and its -17. LOL. finally they all start going back, but my buff O, she really likes the nest box. I decided to stop the late night snack tonight, and let them be. If she sleeps in the box, i guess i will have to live with it. No one else seems interested, just her... so be it.

 

[Folly's place]

I have a light in the coop on a timer, 4am to 8am every morning, from October to April. It does help with egg production through winter, although I still don't get as many eggs anyway. But way more than zero!
Mary