light quality on egg laying question

[lcwmt]

Is there information on how, or if, dimmed light from constantly smoky skies impacts egg laying?
I am not concerned but am curious.


Once again, the air here is constantly ashy from fires in our state and elsewhere. We have not had a clear day in about 5 weeks now. There was a very hot spell with temps close to triple digits. Occasional rains are a relief but not a "fix".

In my mixed flock, two of the 18 mo hens are consistent, one has stopped laying, another gone broody and the Banty may or may not be laying (she hides her eggs).

In this year's group, (Late March to early April hatch), one Barred Rock is laying, the other 2 BR have nice comb color but are not laying, the 2 EE are "younger" looking and acting (last year's EEs did not lay until very late August, after weeks of fussing about.)

Certainly the stress from the hot days could impact laying as might the hullabaloo caused by the 3.5 mo cockerel who lives here, what about the light?
FWIW, all birds are active and apparently healthy, no change in routines or behavior except they go to roost quite a bit earlier than they would if the air was clear.

I'm curious about how the dimmed light from ash and smoke may or may not be impacting the girls.
(They do not have any artificial light)
Any thoughts or articles you can point me to?
TIA

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry, no article... just personal experience...

Absolutely I BELIEVE the smoky grey skies CAN have impact on laying. It also has impact on plant growth and solar panels. Nature is SOOO interesting! I recently watched a documentary that showed plants DIE without sleep in under 3 weeks! Many hormones are effected by light and they control us essentially. The birds don't know artificial sun blocking or true shorter days.

I too would not be concerned and likely let nature take its' course... But it is definitely fascinating!

 

[lcwmt]

Sorry, no article... just personal experience...

Absolutely I BELIEVE the smoky grey skies CAN have impact on laying. It also has impact on plant growth and solar panels. Nature is SOOO interesting! I recently watched a documentary that showed plants DIE without sleep in under 3 weeks! Many hormones are effected by light and they control us essentially. The birds don't know artificial sun blocking or true shorter days.

I too would not be concerned and likely let nature take its' course... But it is definitely fascinating!

thanks for the reply.
We have had a number of smoky Summers over the last decades, this time around it's the 4th in a row... Our "new normal" I am afraid.
Just as fire makes its own weather, the 3-4 months of dimmed light impacts the migratory birds, our trees and gardens and more. It is my hunch that egg laying will be impacted for the chickens. I'm keeping track <G>.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Our "new normal" I am afraid.

Being in California... I'm too near you not to hear you! Fire season can be downright scary.

I am fortunate to be on the north coast where we aren't often effected AS bad by the smoke and wild fires. I have learned to enjoy instead of being deathly afraid of the thunder and lighting storms as I grew into an adult. But now I have to shriek when those awe inspiring, shake you out of bed thunders get me excited... for I know that means the start of... the deadly wildfire season and nightmares for many.

Still on topic... living on the coast... our daylight is effected by fog. The hotter it gets inland, the foggier it gets here. Mid August @ 9:15 am and still no sun despite it rising several hours ago. Guess I never though too much about it. I know it just needs to be enough light to read by to still be getting the signal for egg laying... but surely going up earlier DOES effect how many hours they are getting... not just light but also nutrient and fluid intake are effected also by the shorter days. And so less energy and water going in means less eggs coming out ultimately.

Glad you are safe... fingers crossed (and prayers if you do that) for those who are in fear and mourning right now!