I've put up a light on a timer in my chicken house so that my hens can get back laying more since the days are so short. My question is whether i should have my light on in the morning or at night, like starting at 6pm when it gets dark until around 11 pm, or 4 am until its light outside
If you have it come on in the morning, the chickens will get up and then go to roost at their usual time. If you have it go off at 11, they may be 'caught' on the floor when the lights go out.
Think about a long summer day; depending on where you live, sunrise around 6 am, and sunset around 9 pm. Now, it's not getting light until 8 am and getting dark at 5 pm here in MT. So you would turn your light on from 6-8 am, then again from 5-8 pm. Shoot for around 14 hours of light.
Well i dont even know if the light will help. I live on a farm thats very old and my chciken house is a long rectangle and the outside wall is just chicken wire, so the chickens go in at night to roost even while the light is on
The light does help. I would bet that they get up and are active when the light comes on in the morning before sunrise. With the added light their day is long enough that near the time the light will go out the are ready to sleep and know that the light will go out so they know to go to roost. I know mine do.
Do they actaully have to be up and moving around for the light to work, or will it work even if it just shines on them while they roost?
Mine are active for the most part when the light comes on and them may get back to roost a bit during the day, especially if its cold...I still have good egg response with regular lighting schedule of 13-14 hours.
I would recommend the light come on in the morning, 0400-0500 hrs, and go off an hour or so after day break. I agree that the chickens should go to roost at normal dusk times.
