Egg production dropped even with supplemental lighting-why?

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

We have had the craziest winter. Started in NOV with two BIG snow storms 8-10 inches apiece. Then we got rain in Dec. Last week we had weather in the high 40's. Only been below 0F maybe 3 or 4 nights so far this winter. Not as windy as it can be here in Maine overall. 31F, 37F, 37F, 36F (Thurs-Sun). Then in the low to mid 20's all next week. Sun night will be 6F and most of the other nights 10-low 20's When I was a kid we had many nights -40F.

I hear you about the crazy weather. It's been a little out of the ordinary here. We got 9 inches of snow in November then it rained on top of that. The temps were way below normal here in November as well. I thought it was my fault - when I moved into this house last March it was between the three Nor'easters we had. There was so much snow on the ground (the previous owners moved out in February) that my little snow blower died. I bought a bigger snow blower in early November. Aside from that 9 inches, we've had no other measurable snow. So I take responsibility for the lack of plowable snow. LOL! But the chickens are fine, today is the first day I got 5 eggs. I'm with you, I use a battery operated LED lantern for early morning light. The electricity here is pricey, apparently we are still paying for the ice storm that hit here 8 or 9 years ago. January s off to a mild start and my wee ones are enjoying the "balmy" temps. Good luck to you up in Maine.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Been about the same here so far this season..
....can't say I miss moving snow and being cold, but I could use the exercise

AART, get a pellet stove. Lugging the 40 pound bags of pellets from the garage will help keep you in shape.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No, just when laying. The light isn't on all the time- just 14 hours per day. They have 10 hours per day darkness so they can sleep. The light comes on at 2 am and turns off at sunset, which right now is about 4 here.

If your chickens go outside in the morning, you only need to light the coop from 2AM till dawn. The light the rest of the day isn't necessary since the chickens are outside.

 

[aart]

I think she means the light goes on at 2am and stays on for 14 hours straight until 4pm in the afternoon, thus giving 14 hours of light. No changes in increments.

Well, yeah, right.... she probably didn't ram up slowly.
But still changes in sunset will be felt by birds.

If your chickens go outside in the morning, you only need to light the coop from 2AM till dawn. The light the rest of the day isn't necessary since the chickens are outside

In cloudy places nice to have the light in the coop....mine go in to eat and lay and lounge...my light are on until about 2-3pm.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...

In cloudy places nice to have the light in the coop....mine go in to eat and lay and lounge...my light are on until about 2-3pm.

Or perhaps in coops that don't have enough natural light.
I'd have to black out all the windows in every building for the chickens not to be able to sense daylight.
Which I have done to force molt in summer.

 

[MROO]

Been about the same here so far this season..
....can't say I miss moving snow and being cold, but I could use the exercise

BITE YOUR TONGUE! "Snow" is a four-letter word in Maryland! Where I live, close to the Chesapeake Bay, we rarely get pretty, white snow that can be moved around with a shovel and a teenager. At least, we don't get it often. When we do get pretty snow, it's usually just enough to cover up the nasty, slushy, icy mess that covers every horizontal(ish) surface in sight. I miss my flip-flops!

 

[aart]

BITE YOUR TONGUE! "Snow" is a four-letter word in Maryland!

Snow, lots of it, is usually a given in the lake effect snow belt of SW Michigan.

 

[MROO]

Snow, lots of it, is usually a given in the lake effect snow belt of SW Michigan.

Don't get me wrong! I LOVE snow! REAL snow ... not the nasty, dangerous, icy mess we usually get around here. We have family in Northern Michigan, so I spent a lot of time up north when I was a kid. It was always a BLAST to get snowed in for Easter. At least we kids thought it was great ... my parents? ... Not so much!