Dark Egg Breeds Thread

[Medicine Man]

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Which brings us full circle to my current scenario - - - as soon as they wake up under the lights they leave the coop to socialize in the dark for a couple hours . . .

Even this morning, they left they nice lighted, warm coop to stand outside in the 30 F cold DARK run!

I just can not be beat by a chicken

, so I will have to keep working on outsmarting them

I saw that after I posted.

 

[Medicine Man]

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How about the yolks- how do they look? Maybe an egg yolk color thread is in order.

 

[knjinnm]

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Hi,
There is a timer out there that switches to another smaller wattage bulb for a while and then goes off. You can do the same thing with two or more timers. One timer for a bright light, another for a bulb 50% less and then a third timer with a 5-7 watt bulb.
Joe

 

[math ace]

knjinnm,

Thanks. . .. I'll show Dh your suggestion.

 

[kathyinmo]

Here is a good article about lights with birds...

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/magazine/spring05/night.htm

 

[berkeleysprings]

nice reading , thanks, i started a light for 2 hours in the evening in the marans coop last week and i hope to start getting some eggs ahatching
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[drom]

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Oh, actually I had no idea anybody had strong feelings about it.

I have never heard anyone saying they thought it was an unhealthy practice. I just wasn't sure why hobbyists do it. I want mine to take a long break so I can get some nice dark eggs in the early spring. I'm hopeful

I actually have much more background with Equines than chickens. In the show horse world, the Quarter horse people leave lights on in the stalls when the days are short to keep the coats short and sleek. The hunter-jumper people don't mess with any of that, they body clip the horses in winter so they won't stay wet and cold after a long work out and just keep them in blankets and sheets all winter.
Off topic sorry-
Heres a picture of some dark brown eggs shells.

 

[Kansaseq]

Drom, that beautiful quilt perfectly showcases your lovely dark eggs.

 

[berkeleysprings]

my birds are starting to fly up to the roost about 30 min befor the light turns off all on there own ,,,, i have no dimmer or graDGUALY DIM THE LIGHTS sorrry about caps i guess the bio - clock they have inturnaly is working ... i would hate haveing to put mood lighting in the coop playing berry white is enough !
have a nice friday you and you all! woo hoo almost chicken-thirty quittin time
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[drom]

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Nice picture Valencia!!