Egg laying and light for upcoming colder months

[Mygirls615]

Hello and Thank you for allowing me to ask questions! My husband and I are very new to having chickens we have 6 ...2 Issas 2 Plymouth Bard Rocks, and we believe 2 Red Rangers. We got our 1st egg on Friday and then we got 2 eggs on Saturday we know one is from Red Ranger and we believe the other one is too seeing as though she was the biggest and fastest maturing .
Can the same breed give very different colored and size eggs? The one I know it's coming from (saw her in box ) is VERY light almost white med sized and the other is like a large egg and very brown. My next question is they both laid in morning on Saturday and the past 2 days one is laying in afternoon today was 3:45 pm is that unusual?
Last but not least I want to prepare for light in coming months....I was thinking of putting one on a timer from 4pm til 7pm I am on East Coast. RI Is that enough or should I put on longer?

Thanks in Advance
April

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The hue can vary as can the size, especially when they start laying.
The first autumn and winter, you shouldn't need to add light. You will in subsequent winters.

 

[cpsmith02]

The size and color of the eggs will vary until they get used to laying. They wont have a specific laying time for a while as they get used to their laying schedules.

 

[aart]

The hue can vary as can the size, especially when they start laying.
The first autumn and winter, you shouldn't need to add light. You will in subsequent winters.

Ditto Dat^^

If you want to use lighting for winter laying in the future, IMO it's best to have the light come on in the early morning and let them go to roost with the natural sunset.
Light should be increased slowly over time, 1/2 hour per week or two, starting when the days reach close to 14 hours long.
12-13 hours is about minimum, 16 is maximum.... I keep mine about 14-15 hours.