14 hours is optimum... but why push them. imo, when they want/need to slow down. or even stop, let them. no need to stress their bodies like that.. i want them to live long/happy/healthy lives
Some recommend on here (and I think it makes sense) to set the timers so that they aren't on in the evening, since they might be on the floor and won't be able to find the roost if the light goes out on them. They say to have them come on in the morning. Of course you will need food and water in the coop as well, so they can start the day.
Having a light come on at a consistent, early morning time, such as 4:30 or 5:00 am adds a few hours of light to their day. This allows for evening dusk to fall naturally and they go to their roosts in a normal manner. Right now, this will provide them with 14 hours of daylight. At the worst of daylight, December 21, this will only produce 11 or 12 hours of daylight. This isn't "pushing" them, imho. Giving them 16 hours or more of light is pushing them.
Laying hens need 16 hours of light during the laying period. It doesn't have to be a bright light either, just a minimum of one-half foot candle at bird level. You can have the light go on at 5 am and off at 9 am, and then on at 4 pm and off at 9 pm. The important thing is: 1) Never increase the duration or intensity of light during the growing period, and 2) Never decrease the duration or intensity of light during the production period.
