Lights in the coop.

[PDXcluck]

There are a lot of folks here who will tell you they don't need heat in the winter, except in the worst conditions. I'm buying into that, but I like the idea of giving them the light hours they want to stay productive. I feel the same way...I hate it when the days get short.

I think you mean the light hours you want so they stay productive!

From what I've read (no experience yet), leaving a light on during the winter will definitely boost egg production but it can throw off their molt and you may need to keep the light off all together for a brief period so that they can molt. I am fairly certain molting is important for good health. In addition, while adding lighting in the winter will increase egg production now, it may shorten the hen's lifetime productivity by shortening the number of years she lays and/or shortening the number of years she lives.

I am still on the fence about adding light or not. I have two brahma's and several other brahma owners on byc have noted good winter egg production without light. So I am going to wait and see how it goes I think. There certainly isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' answer, just depends on how you decide to raise and utilize your flock.

 

[JeffOeuf]

I think you mean the light hours you want so they stay productive!

From what I've read (no experience yet), leaving a light on during the winter will definitely boost egg production but it can throw off their molt and you may need to keep the light off all together for a brief period so that they can molt. I am fairly certain molting is important for good health. In addition, while adding lighting in the winter will increase egg production now, it may shorten the hen's lifetime productivity by shortening the number of years she lays and/or shortening the number of years she lives.

I am still on the fence about adding light or not. I have two brahma's and several other brahma owners on byc have noted good winter egg production without light. So I am going to wait and see how it goes I think. There certainly isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' answer, just depends on how you decide to raise and utilize your flock.

That's very interesting. Hadn't considered that. What I want most is a few eggs and some happy chickens. I will investigate this further. My "inner chicken" says let nature take its course. My human instinct is to use lights to get things done. I may try this winter without lights and see what happens. That also means one fewer things to do to the coop between now and December.

 

[PDXcluck]

That also means one fewer things to do to the coop between now and December.

Exactly, building the coop was fun and all but I am ready to be done...warm weather grilling, good beer and watching the goofy chickens do what they do sounds like much more fun than wiring up the coop!

If you do research this and come across additional or conflicting information, come back and post it here. I will do the same.

Cheers!