Extending egg laying by not using light in winter?

[Alyssa Bates]

This might be a very stupid question but I've been wondering if for quite some time. I've read that shining a light within the coop during the winter will encourage hens to lay eggs during the colder months. I've also read that most chickens stop laying eggs after about three years. If you live in northern climates, and choose not to shine a light on the chickens during the winter, does that actually extend the number of overall warmer seasons they'll lay? As in... will they spread out their laying and lay during the warm months for about 5-6 years, rather than laying year round for 3 years?

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

3 years?
Wow!

Sorry, But that's a joke!
My BR hen is 8 1/2, And ya know?She lays twice a week.Sometimes four times!

I have never put a light in my coop, beside a heat lamp(bad idea, but I learned before anything bad happened)and my girls have always layed during the winter.Not as much as usually, but on good days I sometimes get 8 eggs!


But, I also have breeds that are pretty good at laying(SLW mix most likely, EEs, BRs, BG and BAs, and a deformed WLH)

So, for Bantams expect less.

 

[aart]

does that actually extend the number of overall warmer seasons they'll lay?

No....nor will using supplemental lighting necessarily shorten their 'laying life',
tho it can be hard on them not to get a break, molt, recharge, etc.

But I have had lighted birds molt in fall and stop laying over winter anyway,
I have had lighted birds lay all winter then molt in spring(and stop laying of course).
Have had birds start molting in late summer and start laying again before solstice without lights. It's a bit of a crap shoot, IMO.
Still using lights, but not staring until after solstice.
Depends on your goals and management techniques.
I'm in it for the eggs to sell to pay for feed and replace some layers every year, which means stew, usually have 3 age groups.

 

[lazy gardener]

I allow my birds to have some down time, then start the lights. Laying takes a huge nose dive in October. By mid November, I'm lucky to see 2 - 3 eggs from 15 gals, some of which are new layers. So, I start the light then, and ramp it up slowly, They start cranking out the eggs by January. Normally, they would stop in October and not start up again till mid Feb. I do my lighting a bit differently. Set it to come on at 6:30 AM, off at 8:30 AM, on at 3 PM, off at 8:30 PM. The girls do fine with this schedule, and are always on the roost by lights out time. I put a solar light in their window so it acts as a night light when the main light goes out.

Whether a bird lays eggs or not, her body is still gonna get old.