Lightning

[aart]

Light must be kept consistent...so a good timer is essential.
Better to add in morning, IMO, but it can be split between morning and night...couple folks here do that with no problems.

Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.

I got an adjustable timer and yellow bulb but wasn’t sure where to mount. I will put in bottom open area. But I can’t do as jthornton suggests and do AM because it is photo sensitive and turns on at dusk

Then it's not a real timer...or not the kind of timer you want for chickens.

 

[jthornton]

Light must be kept consistent...so a good timer is essential.
Better to add in morning, IMO, but it can be split between morning and night...couple folks here do that with no problems.

How do they simulate sunset to allow the birds time to settle in on the roost? A simple timer won't work for that scenario.

I've decided to discontinue extra light for my heritage RIR hens for one reason, they are not production layer birds. The laying houses that have production layers use 14 hours of daylight year round but they don't have heritage breeds. I feel like the heritage birds should have natural light/dark cycles. So I'm removing 5 minutes of extra light a day until the light turns on a dawn. From then on the light will only turn on at dawn and stay on until 15 minutes after sunrise just for those cloudy days.

JT

 

[True Patriot]

Personally, I think a good light in a coop is a huge benefit, for cleaning and maintenance. To force egg production, no. I have lighting in both coop and run. All swithced manually. Since in winter months I get home after dark it's invaluable for daily chores. I could add a dimmable timer to the circuit, but I feel they need the break from laying. In the colder times they use a lot of their bodies resources to maintain heat, the same resources that go into egg production. Having the few extra eggs to me isn't worth the additional risk to the flock. Yes, this is opinion, I don't have medical studies to show. But if you look around in nature, the same cycle is present through a wide variety of species. It wouldn't be so popular if there isn't a reason.

 

[aart]

How do they simulate sunset to allow the birds time to settle in on the roost? A simple timer won't work for that scenario.

They don't.
From what I recall (that person is no longer active here and won't chime in) they go to roost before the lights go off at 9-10pm, so they arent' caught off roost and 'blinded' by the sudden darkness. Even tho they are on the roost, and maybe asleep, the light is still absorbed by and affects the pineal gland thru the skull between the eyes.

Since in winter months I get home after dark it's invaluable for daily chores.

Do your birds rouse and move around when the chore light comes on?
No, you wouldn't need timer for a chore light.
Although my timer has a manual override, I just use a headlight when I need to do something in the coop and it's dark outside.

There's a lot of scenarios with using supplemental lighting, some use it all year round, some ramp it up slowly in the fall, some crank it up around Solstice.
The farther north you live, the more you might be inclined to use supplemental lighting,
as it becomes way more than just a 'few eggs'.
It can screw up their molting 'cycles', not getting a break from laying obviously can be detrimental to their health, some birds will be more adversely affected than others.
I've had birds molt and/or take a break despite the lights....and have had some molt in spring too.

 

[True Patriot]

Do your birds rouse and move around when the chore light comes on?

The farther north you live, the more you might be inclined to use supplemental lighting,
as it becomes way more than just a 'few eggs'.
.

So far no real issues with using the light. I keep the wattage low on the light inside the coop. It's just bright enough to see and move around. (25w I think) It seems opening the door and being there is more of a disturbance than the light is. I haven't had any bothered enough to come off roost.

Lattitude does have a significant impact on daylight. I live pretty far south so it's not as much as others. Your point is quite valid. I can only speak from what I've observed. For me the improvement in production isn't necessarily great enough to warrant the use of lights.

 

[aart]

...For me the improvement in production isn't necessarily great enough to warrant the use of lights.

I think this is your first year with chickens?
You might feel differently after going thru your second winter
Unless you're going to add chicks each year,
pullets will sometimes lay thru the winter with no supplemental light.

 

[Jpiggle1]

You should add your location in your profile as answers differ by location, weather etc.

JT

I’m in central California

 

[jthornton]

I’m in central California

It only works all the time if you add that to your profile.

JT

 

[aart]

It only works all the time if you add that to your profile.

JT

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!