First night of 13-14 hour "day" light...

[Ted Brown]

8 eggs this morning, a 9th later.

Timer was reset to result in 14 hours today.

 

[Ted Brown]

I have had lights in the coop for just over 4 weeks.

I have had 10 eggs in a day on two occasions; average since January 3rd is 8. My older hens took three weeks (early January before they started laying, the June pullets started December 20th.

My goal is to get a dozen eggs per day, would mean a egg every second day from each on average. Seems like that is possible...

 

[Ted Brown]

My egg count is 11-13 per day, happy!

One thing I had not thought about was our extremes of temperature. Currently in a -24 to -26C/-11.2 to -14.8F period; lights come on at 3am and by the time I first collect eggs some are frozen.

I could get up earlier...

 

[Folly's place]

So cook them up, shells and all, and feed them back to the chickens!
That's cold! Hope the deep freeze doesn't last long.
Mary

 

[Ted Brown]

Thank you Mary!

I do cook the eggs and feed them back; did not think about the shells probably because I was having egg eating issues last year (now mostly resolved with roll forward nest boxes).

 

[aart]

I do cook the eggs and feed them back; did not think about the shells probably because I was having egg eating issues last year (now mostly resolved with roll forward nest boxes).

Boil them and chop them up shells and all.
Feeding egg shells will not lead to egg eating.

 

[Ted Brown]

So more eggs is awesome, the consequences not so much.

Supplementary light starting at 3am means they spend a lot more time off the roosts and on the coop floor = more crap & corruption.

Today's cleanup included a garden fork to turn over the shavings, most turns were chunky from cold and required being broken up.

I am wondering if adding lights to the run area will encourage the ladies to exit and spend the extra time there? Normal daytime is there, continual access to food & water.

Run area is covered, mostly enclosed, floor is 90% not frozen and is a foot deep mix of mulch, mixed wood chunks and organics - mostly leaves & needles.

 

[jreardon1918]

So more eggs is awesome, the consequences not so much.

Supplementary light starting at 3am means they spend a lot more time off the roosts and on the coop floor = more crap & corruption.

Today's cleanup included a garden fork to turn over the shavings, most turns were chunky from cold and required being broken up.

I am wondering if adding lights to the run area will encourage the ladies to exit and spend the extra time there? Normal daytime is there, continual access to food & water.

Run area is covered, mostly enclosed, floor is 90% not frozen and is a foot deep mix of mulch, mixed wood chunks and organics - mostly leaves & needles.

Ted,
My lights are actually in the run. Some are right up against the east facing windows. When the lights come on, they fairly quickly leave the coop and go out to the run. I had planned to add a string of lights inside the coop this year, but did not get around to it.
Jack

 

[Ted Brown]

Ted,
My lights are actually in the run. Some are right up against the east facing windows. When the lights come on, they fairly quickly leave the coop and go out to the run. I had planned to add a string of lights inside the coop this year, but did not get around to it.
Jack

Awesome, thank you very much!!!

My run is on the west side but I with a little work I can add light in the run (already have a plug there). Will switch my 4' LED shop light from the coop to the run and replace the coop light with a string (currently on sale for $19).

 

[Ridgerunner]

So more eggs is awesome, the consequences not so much.

I am wondering if adding lights to the run area will encourage the ladies to exit and spend the extra time there? Normal daytime is there, continual access to food & water.

Have you considered turning the lights off after daylight?