Is this a gimmick?

[buckabucka]

My husband pointed out in the TEK Supply catalog, that they sell green-colored fluorescent light bulbs for extended the daylight. The catalog claims the green light helps to "keep hens calm" and "reach their optimum weight quicker". Has anyone ever tried these bulbs? We do think we will light the coop in the fall, but wondered if these bulbs are worthwhile.
I appreciate any input.

Robin

 

[buckabucka]

Meant to put this in:

http://www.teksupply.com/farm/suppl...&langId=-1&division=TekSupply&productId=60262

 

[gryeyes]

Well, extending light periods does help keep hens laying in winter. And light green IS one of those colors that calms HUMANS (hence the use of green scrubs for doctors, btw).

I just don't know if green tinted light will actually help calm chickens. Hmmmmmm.

 

[buckabucka]

I always heard less murders are committed in a pink room! I always decorate my classroom with pink.

 

[smith2]

The colors for laying have to do with the wave length of the light and the color spectrum. Some colors are better than others. There used to be some supplemental light information in other posts. You could do a search and see what comes up. I have supplemented light for the past 2 years, but this year I am not going to. It seems to wear my hens out and really stresses them to keep them laying all winter, and when spring comes they molt anyway just when they should be giving good hatching eggs. Mine do better when they get a rest in Nov. and Dec. I have enough hens that someone is always laying a few eggs so it is not a problem for me. The supplemental light does keep them laying, but they lay through the first year pretty well anyway. The second year they need the light to keep laying or they stop about first of Nov and don't restart until about middle of Jan. here in TN. Your location might be different.