Infrared versus regular lighting.............??

[zebber1]

I have a question about lighting. I've read about how the length of daylight effects a laying hen. I have also read about "infrared" light helping with heat, pecking and fighting BUT what I've not really been able to figure out is if infrared light actually contributes to the "length of daylight".

If I put a 75 Watt infrared bulb in with my 7 hens to help keep them a bit warmer this winter - will it also help with daylight exposure or not?

 

[Mahonri]

Good question. I have one of those environment (not really because it has mercury in it) saving lights in my coop that comes on at 6AM and goes off at 8PM. It doesn't produce any heat at all.

I also have my brooder light in there that I'm saving to have come on at 6AM until 11AM come December... just for heat. I don't know that it lights it enough.

Got egg #2 today.

 

[Akane]

Hmm.... I would say no that it lacks full spectrum lighting like daylight but most incandescent bulbs are limited spectrum light (all yellow and green) and they still work if you have enough of them.

The light that isn't putting out heat is probably a fluorescent. Very energy efficient and considered good for the environment because unlike incandescents they put nearly all the electricity into light without any wasted as heat. It also should take less fluorescent light to mimic daylight because it has a broader spectrum. We can't see light as well outside of the yellow/green range so while it looks dimmer to us there is actually more useful light there. I'm not sure if that applies to red only light though.

 

[zebber1]

Okay.............if I'm understanding the responses I've gotten so far, it looks like a "no" for the infrared being used to extend their daylight.

So - now, what wattage of (I'm assuming fluorescent) light bulb should I get to extend the daylight hours this winter? And thanks for the responses by the way.