Increasing daylight and some odd light related behavior

[forestrymom]

I live in Montana and our daylight is dwindling. I put a light with a timer to come on at 6 am and give them a couple extra hours, but they are going to bed 2 hours before sunset, so it really didn't make a difference. Should I have it come on at night too?

Also, its been pretty cold. -5F for a few days now, as our low. They are ready and waiting to come out of the coop in the morning, though and stay mostly outside all day.

Could there be something aside from the light giving them lower energy?

 

[miss_thenorth]

How are they laying? Mine stay in theglowof the light, but are not active. Production has not dropped. If production drops, then I would discontinue the lights. But don't be discouraged by lack of action. Most of the day they are relaxing too.

 

[forestrymom]

Well, my production hasn't been very good for several weeks. 3 of my hens are molting, and I only have 5 hens. I have 9 pullets, and only 2 have started laying. So its hard to say for sure.

 

[cmom]

I keep a 7 watt night light in each of my coops. My birds are laying good. I used to have a timer but found the night light works well.

 

[papeine]

Quote:
I thought the reason for the light was to keep them laying...