Heat lamp - timing??

[DianaG]

Hi,
We live in Maine, have our first flock, and have a question about lighting and heat lamps. Should we keep the lamp on at night for heat? Does that mess up their laying cycle to have 24 hours of light? I read that you can leave the light on 24 hours to increase production, but I don't want to stress them out and would prefer they have a more natural rhythm. Any help would be greatly appreciated - my husband is scared they will freeze!

 

[jubylives]

Maybe one of these would work better.

http://www.eggcartons.com/product-exec/product_id/789/nm/Thermo_Cube_TC_3

There are different ones with different temp ranges. Ebay has them way cheaper and they can be found on line for cheaper then this place.


jeremy

 

[newchickmom]

I use a red heat lamp in the winter. I hang it over the roosts. I also have my new style 13W screw-in florescent bulbs on a timer for 14 hours of light. I have the timer set to come on about 4:30am and turn off at 8am right now. I leave only natural light for evening so the girls come in on their own when the sun starts going down and it gives them time to settle before it is totally dark without suddenly being without light.