Lights for shorter days???

[Stands With A Fiddle]

I've heard several different things on this topic, and I am wondering about different people's experience.

I am not planning on doing any serious winterizing/insulation or running electricity out to my coop.

That being said, I'm debating the need for solar lighting to artificially lengthen the day, because I want my girls to pay rent (eggs). I've heard that they won't quit laying altogether during winter if they've already started. However, mind have not started and I've ALSO heard that they may not start until spring if the days are short.

Bottom line -- should I buy solar powered lights?

 

[bargain]

I would suggest putting lights on. We do put lights on ours to simulate 14 hours of daylight and use the energy efficient bulbs. It certainly does help with laying.

Hope this was helpful and have a blessed day.

 

[lorrir]

I have a light in my coop on a timer. My egg production is actually up since I started the light a couple of weeks ago.

 

[msjones]

What counts as "light?"
My coop is teeny tiny -- about 9 sq feet for just 3 girls.
A flashlight lights the whole place up -- is that enough? Or do I need to rig up something brighter?

 

[captainmoose]

I don't know how you would use solar lighting, it would be on all night long. You only want to add a couply of hours to give them 14-15 hours of light per day. I use a 40watt bulb so I don't see why a flashlight would not work but how are you going to turn it on?

 

[amarook]

I was in the hospital for a week. My boy friend was working long hours, and my chickens didn't get let out much. On top of that the days got shorter. They all but stopped laying. We got a couple eggs a day here or there, then nothing for 3 days.

I put a regular bulb in one of my heat lamps, and have it on all the time. Now they are laying again! Not only that, but I think my black australorps who are 23 weeks are starting to lay. I got a couple pullet eggs this week.

I think the light definitely made a difference.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I'm using solar "spot" lights form Lowes, $29. They have 3 lights w/ 3 LEDs each & a remote solar panel. With the dusk to dawn operation they are going on at 6:30 right now & off by 9:30, or at least real dim, as I can't see them from the house. I am running my tractor near the woods & the leaves are not allowing full sunlight right now. I do think they will be on 4+ hours when the leaves fall. They stayed on longer when they were in full sun. The leaves should come off quite a bit with the Noreasters we are expecting this weekend. Give solar a try. Don't thnk there is any way they will stay on full all night in the winter here in Breezy Corners!

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

I don't know how you would use solar lighting, it would be on all night long. You only want to add a couply of hours to give them 14-15 hours of light per day. I use a 40watt bulb so I don't see why a flashlight would not work but how are you going to turn it on?

The one I am looking at has an on/off switch.​

 

[LynneP]

We use a layer light, 250W from 5 am - 8 am. I was looking at the solar lights at our local hardware store for our second flock, might try that instead of wiring a new outlet in that corner of our barn, provided I can get one with a timer.

I like morning lighting because I can gather most of my eggs before I leave the barn.

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

A timer would be nice... The only solar set ups I saw with timers were outrageously expensive. I just wanted a $30 deal I found on Amazon that had the on-off switch. I can turn it on before I go to work in the AM, have it turn off when the sun is out, and turn it off before I go to sleep.