Do they need daylight or sunlight?

[Chrysostomist]

Our new chickens are going to be kept in the coop for the first week, and the coop has one window only. The window is currently on the north side so actual direct sunlight does not enter the coop. Do chickens need the direct sunlight to lay better or is daylight simply from outside what they need?

 

[karenej]

My hens weren't laying this winter. We supplemented the daylight with some LED strip lighting until about 8:30 PM. They began to lay consistently after that. So I wouldn't think direct sunlight is necessary, just light. They may not lay normally when they're in a new place for awhile, just because of the stress factor.

 

[aart]

Our new chickens are going to be kept in the coop for the first week, and the coop has one window only. The window is currently on the north side so actual direct sunlight does not enter the coop. Do chickens need the direct sunlight to lay better or is daylight simply from outside what they need?

They probably won't lay at first anyway with the moving stress.
But it's good to have lots of windows for light and ventilation.
A south window can be great for winter.

Here's a pretty good article on how light works on stimulating laying.