⠀ Is there a way to keep hens laying throughout fall and winter?

[Parront]

16-17 hours of light? Thats the first time I have heard/read that. The common quoted time on this forum is 14 hours......

Hmmm

Gary

14 is a minimum, the Purina pros are right, 15-16 even better.

 

[Parront]

This is copied from a Novagen guide:
● Light duration during production
After the first stimulatory increase in light duration at 19 weeks, never decrease the day length during the production period. A decreasing day length will risk an early decline in egg production and poor flock performance.

 

[Parront]

What I interpret that to mean is after the summer solstice, keep the light at the day length you had then. Add light in the morning to keep long, summer days and you will not be posting here "why are there no eggs?" But, this commercial routine is not what a lot of us do, because we have neighbors and do not want to turn on the coop lighting at 4:00 am. A minimum of 14 is a compromise. Laying will decrease, some will moult.

 

[MairyMai]

A heat lamp on at night seems to do the trick for me. It also depends on your chickens breed, however, as long as they have light and heat the should continue to lay. Thanks for your post

This works for me since I live in a colder climate, where light and heat are limited, in the winter. And I do leave it on all night

 

[Fairview01]

This lighting factor is way too complicated for me. I went to HD AND bought some solar powered lights. They come on at dusk and go off , well I'm not up to tell you when the battery is completely discharged. I do this year round. I haven't seen any signs of stress, they're not pulling their feathers out, the hens aren't crowing at midnight or hanging upside down on the roosts. Sometimes they nap during the day but then again who doesn't.