Does a heat lamp help keep egg production up?

[jamielynn]

Or must you use an additional light.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Dar]

NO its the light that stimulates the hen to lay in regular cycles.. but you have to be careful because if they get to much light it may turn into a pecking problem. You will read a lot that a red light is better to reduce pecking problems

and I have read on here before that if dont allow them to have a natural cycle it will shorten their laying life... meaning they will burn out faster

eta: when you say heat lamp... what colour is the bulb? red or white?

 

[nutmeg1980]

I use a light and I'm getting quite a few eggs even in mid-winter. I do notice that when it gets really cold (below 10 degees), I am getting fewer eggs despite the light.

 

[jamielynn]

I am using a red light. I actually want them to molt normally. So should probably stop using it?

 

[Dar]

I used a heat lamp for my first winter with them.... and it was fine... some of my hens just started molting in sept and the last of them are just finishing up now ... I have 17 raging from 1 year to 18 months