how do you keep your hens laying in the winter?

[larlar23]

i ws woundering how to keep your hens laying in the winter? i need them to keep laying. with out riseing my pge bill. can any one help me?

 

[cajunlizz]

I heard putting lights in the coop at night to give them extra hours of LIGHT , since it gets dark earlier during the winter .


I also heard some DO stop laying while others will not . Depending on their ages and breeds .

How old are your hens and what breed ?

 

[larlar23]

they are 7 months and i have all kinds RIRs, EE, BUff, PLYMITH rock, leg horns a total of 62
58 hens 4 roos

 

[mtnhomechick]

I have a timer in my coop and run. The lights come on at 5 am and go off at 8 am. They roost at dusk with the natural light. I have 90% production.

Hope this helps.

 

[larlar23]

i have lights that or on at night and most of the day. i am going to put them on a timer so that my pge bill does not go throw the roof. puting the light on in the morning does that work better then at night? i am down to less then 50% of my eggs




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thanks Laurie

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yes, it's preferable to add light in the AM rather than the PM if you are going to add light.

 

[mtnhomechick]

If they are out at night with a light and it times out and goes off it will be hard for them to settle and roost for the night. They can't see then.

That's why I only light it up in the morning. I think it's important for them to be able to settle in for the night comfortably.