Does it matter if I leave the lay lights on?

[Animalfisherwoman]

We tried a solar light but it didn't work, so we switched to a timer light that'd go off late at night. Around then, we had some taken by raccoons who get more scared at any kind of light, so we thought this was a plus.

What issues would arise with hens having an extended photo period in the summer?

 

[Fishkeeper]

I think I read somewhere that 24-hour light results in aggression issues. It's definitely not good for them, or for most animals, to be kept in light all day. It throws off their internal clocks, and that'll mess everything up. Take it from someone with dysautonomia (a chronic issue with the autonomic nervous system) that has a similar effect, throwing off all sorts of biological clocks- it's not fun.

 

[DanEP]

Solar lights that come on at dusk are not a good idea. 1st some solar lights last for 2 hours some 8 hours so you don't have very good control over light versus dark hours. 2nd it's never a good idea to keep the girls up late, this leads to problems like they won't go into a coop without light. But more of a problem to me is if the girls are going about their business doing things like eating or drinking when the lights go out then they can't see well enough to roost up.
I get my girls up about 4:30 every morning all winter long and let the sun determine bed time. This way even in Dec they're getting 12-13 hours of daylight which will keep them laying even if a little slower than in summer. This allows me to run 1 60 watt bulb from 4:30 till 7:00 in a 10 x 20 coop and does the trick.

 

[aart]

We tried a solar light but it didn't work, so we switched to a timer light that'd go off late at night. Around then, we had some taken by raccoons who get more scared at any kind of light, so we thought this was a plus.

What issues would arise with hens having an extended photo period in the summer?

Did you see this?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eave-the-lay-lights-on.1297351/#post-21114277

 

[GC-Raptor]

my chooks now don't go into the coop willingly unless there's a light there, and further, they are protected in the evening by this 60W equivalent light saying, "predators, stay away."

I add light in the morning at 5 am year round.
I have the light on a plug in dimmer. I dim the light around 9 am. It's enough light for them to go into the coop after sunset.
My new coop only has 2 windows on the east side wall. It's dark in there without a light. So I leave a light on all day till I lockup the coop about 20 to 25 minutes after sunset. At that time they are in the coop. I turn off the light and a nightlight comes on. I check the nest boxes and dump the outside waterer. Most have flown to the roosts. The ones who don't want to go to roost (they are Pullets, 7 months) I put on the roost, and nightlights out. .
As far as predators, once locked up the coops are predator proof.

. A bear could break in, but in 34 months of chickens in coop. No problem. I do have motion activated security lights in backyard and coops are less than 50 feet from house. GC