Light in Coop for Shorter Days?

[akf93]

I don’t want to use a light in the coop to encourage laying BUT I’m wondering if I should add a light on a timer or something so that it’s light earlier in the morning. I’ve had twice this week that hens are dropping eggs from the roosting bars. I’m thinking it may be too dark for them to get to the nesting box in the morning?

They’ve been laying since August and despite what most have told me, they are NOT laying well through these shorter days so every egg is quite precious and finding cracked eggs is such a bummer!

 

[sourland]

It might solve the problem, but it will also most likely have an impact on production.

 

[MamaFox78]

You could try making some ground level nesting boxes... some of my girls like laying behind straw bales in the corner of the coop.

I keep clean straw on the ground for a nest, and make a cozy corner out of 3 bales stacked in a U-shape, with the middle one balanced on top so they have a little doorway. I originally set it up for a little "jungle gym" but they liked it so well they started laying in it!

 

[aart]

I don’t want to use a light in the coop to encourage laying BUT I’m wondering if I should add a light on a timer or something so that it’s light earlier in the morning.

Adding any light will affect laying production...unless it's very dim and away from the roost.