Direct sunlight?

[Ladyquitachicks]

I read somewhere that hens need x amount of sunlight per day for egg laying. Can someone explain this? My chicks spend majority of the day from 5am to 4pm in a covered run that’s also covered by tree limbs. I don’t think there’s much if any exposure to sun. Do I need to move the run to an area where they’ll be in the sun?

 

[DobieLover]

For egg laying they don't need exposure to direct sunlight. They just need full spectrum light.
But they do enjoy sun bathing in direct sun.

 

[Ladyquitachicks]

For egg laying they don't need exposure to direct sunlight. They just need full spectrum light.
But they do enjoy sun bathing in direct sun.

Ok, thanks for clearing that up! I got maybe another 2-3 weeks before they’re old enough to start laying so I wanna be prepared.

 

[3KillerBs]

In a hot climate deep shade is a good thing.

My in-town flock did just fine with deep shade and a little dappled sunlight in the morning.

 

[Ladyquitachicks]

In a hot climate deep shade is a good thing.

My in-town flock did just fine with deep shade and a little dappled sunlight in the morning.

Thanks. I was confused. Planning to put the diy coop I’m currently working on in that same location so I needed the clarification

 

[NatJ]

I read somewhere that hens need x amount of sunlight per day for egg laying. Can someone explain this?

Hens naturally lay eggs during the longer days of spring and summer, not during the short days of winter. In the winter, people can provide artificial light to make the days seem longer, so the hens will lay eggs then too. This information is very common in books and articles about chickens, so it is probably what you read.

For egg laying they don't need exposure to direct sunlight. They just need full spectrum light.

Normal light bulbs work just fine, whether they claim to be full spectrum or not.

My chicks spend majority of the day from 5am to 4pm in a covered run that’s also covered by tree limbs. I don’t think there’s much if any exposure to sun. Do I need to move the run to an area where they’ll be in the sun?

That location sounds fine.

An old guideline for how much bright the light needs to be: a person should be able to read a newspaper. Your shaded run is probably bright enough for that.

 

[Ladyquitachicks]

Hens naturally lay eggs during the longer days of spring and summer, not during the short days of winter. In the winter, people can provide artificial light to make the days seem longer, so the hens will lay eggs then too. This information is very common in books and articles about chickens, so it is probably what you read.


Normal light bulbs work just fine, whether they claim to be full spectrum or not.


That location sounds fine.

An old guideline for how much bright the light needs to be: a person should be able to read a newspaper. Your shaded run is probably bright enough for that.

This is very helpful!