How long does it take after adding light for hen to lay?

[Aapomp831]

I agree. Our ISA Browns laid non stop through the winter. The Dominiques stopped laying for around two months in the cold of winter. Now that it’s warm again, we’re seeing the Dominiques lay almost every day.

Yes, I have leghorns that lay PROLIFICALLY. I haven’t had them through a winter yet so I’m excited to see if they lay right through

 

[aart]

Also, how long does it take the egg to fork form? in their body?

It's explained in this excellent video:

 

[aart]

If I turn off the light, will they stop laying?

Maybe.
Newly laying pullets usually lay thru their first winter,
second winter you might want to use lights.
Be very careful with lighting.
Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.

 

[Chicalina]

You'll not get them to lay more eggs by adding light, they'll just lay them in a shorter period of time over their lifetime and burn out quicker, or possibly die of egg related issues.

It's better for the hen to lay as part of a natural seasonal cycle and live a longer and healthier life. If you want laying machines, are you prepared to deal with the potential health issues, cull when production slows, renew the flock every couple of years?

What is your ultimate priority - healthy long-lived flock with a good supply of eggs, or just EGGS EGGS EGGS?

 

[Laughingduck81]

You'll not get them to lay more eggs by adding light, they'll just lay them in a shorter period of time over their lifetime and burn out quicker, or possibly die of egg related issues.

I’d love to see some scientific studies supporting this theory! Do you have any?

 

[Chicalina]

I’d love to see some scientific studies supporting this theory! Do you have any?

Every chicken is born with all the eggs they are ever going to lay. Just the tiny germ of them. Once they are used up they are gone. If you accelerate their release then they will stop laying at a younger age than if you didn't. And a high production rate very often leads to egg binding, peritonitis, prolapse, and many other reproductive heath problems (sometimes fatal). Layer breeds and hybrids who are specifically bred to produce 300+ eggs a year or more suffer from these conditions way more than heritage breeds for example. I don't know what breeds you have, but accelerating production by adding light could create the same effect. You will burn them out quicker. Perhaps they will live for just 3 or 4 years instead of 8 for example.

Commercial egg companies do this, and then retire/slaughter the birds at their first moult when production drops. They are running a business in an industry that is for profit. I'm assuming you are a backyard hobby chicken keeper who has a flock for the joy of it, the benefit of eggs (maybe meat as well) and your primary aim is not high egg production rates for profit? I may be wrong.

As for studies, I am sure you can trawl the Internet for academic papers by universities or researchers which will tell you this. It's not my job to do that for you. I'm just telling you what I know.

 

[Cecisflock]

Every chicken is born with all the eggs they are ever going to lay. Just the tiny germ of them. Once they are used up they are gone. If you accelerate their release then they will stop laying at a younger age than if you didn't. And a high production rate very often leads to egg binding, peritonitis, prolapse, and many other reproductive heath problems (sometimes fatal). Layer breeds and hybrids who are specifically bred to produce 300+ eggs a year or more suffer from these conditions way more than heritage breeds for example. I don't know what breeds you have, but accelerating production by adding light could create the same effect. You will burn them out quicker. Perhaps they will live for just 3 or 4 years instead of 8 for example.

Commercial egg companies do this, and then retire/slaughter the birds at their first moult when production drops. They are running a business in an industry that is for profit. I'm assuming you are a backyard hobby chicken keeper who has a flock for the joy of it, the benefit of eggs (maybe meat as well) and your primary aim is not high egg production rates for profit? I may be wrong.

As for studies, I am sure you can trawl the Internet for academic papers by universities or researchers which will tell you this. It's not my job to do that for you. I'm just telling you what I know.

X2

 

[aart]

Every chicken is born with all the eggs they are ever going to lay.

Yes, billions.....and they would never lay them all, no matter what the lighting conditions.

Using supplemental light is not a death sentence. It depends on how you use it.
The bird needs to molt and take a break annually.

 

[Sally PB]

I watched that video. Thanks, @aart for the link!

One (of the many) things I didn't know: The egg moves pointed end first through the process. Then just before it's laid, it turns 180 degrees and is laid rounded end first. So it's sideways at one point. Think of that when you see Jumbo sized eggs. Ouch!

 

[Laughingduck81]

Chicalina I didn’t find any studies, which is why I asked if you had any. I guess you dont have any either. I’ve seen more information saying what aart said (they have more eggs than they will ever lay). Similar to humans. They stop laying as they get older and the egg quality decreases. More to do with age than how many they have laid.
Also, the supplemental light for me was because their coop is in a dark garage (to help protect them from predators). There is a small window but it does’t let much light in. I put a light on a timer going on and off with our natural sunrise/sunset. Two days after I added it one girl started laying. I just wanted to know if it was related, didn’t need a lecture. Thanks though!