Light questions...

[christa7032]

Hi Everyone,
I keep reading about chickens needing 14 hours of light a day to lay. Does this mean they stop laying completely when the days get shorter? or do they just slow down? I haven't added a light to my coop yet and my girls are about 23 weeks and I haven't seen an egg yet. If I don't add a light will they not lay until next spring? Also is it possible to add a timer to a solar light? or only the lights you wire or plug in? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Uppity Peon]

I'm still getting eggs out of my Reds and SLWs without using lights.

 

[gritsar]

It really depends on the breed and the individual chicken as to whether they will slow down or stop completely during the shorter days of winter.
Being that this is your girls first winter, I would suspect that you will get your first eggs before spring, unless they are completely in the dark for long periods each day.
I'm no electrician, but I don't think you can wire a solar light to shut off and on.
I don't add light, but hope I have helped a little.