Lights, Winter and egg laying

[roosmom]

18 eggs on 11-18-08
22 eggs today 11-19-08

So far the red light doesnt seem to make the egg production go down.

 

[roosmom]

11 eggs on 11/20/08
14 eggs on 11/21/08
26 eggs on 11/22/08

 

[Zookeeper9000]

I want to thank you for updating on here just to let ya know some are watching this thread. I am in the UP as well. I am in Gladstone/Brampton area. Can I ask where you are in the UP. Thanks

 

[crazyhen]

I have 6 little 6 week old BO"s and love the fact that yours are still laying. How long have you had them? What ages? Jean
I have been watching this too.

 

[Sylvie]

roosmom, I have reread this thread and it leaves me with a couple questions; what wattage is your red light bulb? Where have you placed it in the coop and does it shine directly at them or away. Is this a red incandescent bulb that any store sells?

BTW your advice about listening to them after dark because of the street light was great! I need the red light

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

I thought I'd chime in with my little red light district too.

We started running the heat lamp 24-7 about two weeks ago when it dropped below freezing here. We open one chicken door during the day, so the lamp keeps the whole house (8x6x6ft high) between 40 and 50 degrees when it's around 30 outside.

We only had one of the 7 girls laying daily, and another laying about every 2 to 3 days. When we started running the heat lamp at night, we started getting 6 to 7 eggs a day like clockwork. These are little banty hens - not known for being great producers. Also, they're either laying at night or early in the morning. We'll check the coop at around 9PM, collect what's in there, and sure enough go out at 6AM and collect 3 or 4 eggs.

On top of that, one of the Silkies may be going broody, which we definitely don't want right now because it's too cold for them to stay outside and the chicks would most likely be a less than attractive mix of Silkie-OEG.

Meanwhile, we have eggs out the wazoo - too many for the two of us!

 

[BayCityBabe]

My coop has no windows and I live in Michigan. I supply light for humanitarian purposes.

I have a small white bulb (40 watt?) on a timer from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. I also have a red heat lamp that kicks on for a couple hours in the early, early morning.
My laying flock consists of 1 two yr. old Silkie and 19 assorted pullets (Australorps, cochins, dominiques, etc.) that are 6 mo. old. I have been getting 7-10 eggs every single day. I am thrilled.
There's been alot written here about what is "natural" for chickens. IMHO - there is nothing "natural" about keeping pets or livestock. We need to do our best with them, given our environment. I don't think that my little light is on par with a bank of florescent lights & a battery cage, so I feel good about this decision. I will be donating eggs to people in need. My chickens are just happy, happy. It's all good.

 

[Michigan Chickman]

Well, it's been almost two weeks since I put the light in my coop. It took a couple days for everyone to adjust to it but now it's all good. For at least the last two weeks our temps here in SW Michigan have been in the low-mid 30's during the day and mid 20's at night. The girls are laying between 18-25 eggs a day, although there seems to be more 18-21 days than 25 days. They're keeping the coop about 10-12 degrees warmer than the outside temps at night. So far so good I guess. The demand for eggs certainly hasn't decreased. I hope the girls can keep up

One odd thing, even though there's plenty of room for everyone to roost, I always had 5 girls that huddled up on the floor. Since I put the light in, everyone sleeps on the roost. I think they have more time to find a spot after they turn in before it gets to dark for them to see. At least that's my guess.

 

[roosmom]

Zookeeper9000, We are in the east end. Its been cold up here hasnt it?

Crazyhen, Got them as day olds and all of my BO's are 8 months.

Sylvie, I want to say it is a 25 watt bulb. It is a regular incandescent. Yes just about any store.....I got mine at our local hardware store. And Zookeeper9000 can vouch that it is a hardware store, not a lowes or anything, not up here lol. The bulb is about two feet off the floor....I needed it down there cuz it gives me access to an extension cord hook up, I have a small floodlight on outside the coop in the run that is on the same timer. I am really glad you listened to the chickies, lol.

Ellie, Our coop is open to the run 24/7. The pop door is open all the time, I just lowered the door so it was only open about 8 inches to cut down on the draft. We do not have heat in the coop. They huddle very well for warmth when it gets that cold. That being said, if the temp drops to 0 or below, we will put the heat lamp in there and shut the pop door.

Baycity Babe, I agree. We do what we can...without interfering to overly much. No I dont want my chickens to burn out on egg laying and that is why I only extend the pm light by about two hours, and awaken them just a little earlier than sunrise.

Michigan Chickman, I agree with the not being able to find the roost. I have noticed that if any of the girls get caught past a certain point of darkness.....then they cant see, its that simple, I dont think they can see.

I should say that I have enclosed 90% of my run with plastic and it has a tarp for a roof. So I have the 50watt floodlite on outside now and the redlite on in the inside. I kinda feel like this is a little more natural. Yes they get to bed in time, lol.


OH and I must have missed a day of counting. It has not dropped below 10, I know that for sure. Sorry.

 

[roosmom]

22 eggs yesterday 11-23-08





31 eggs today wooo hoooo. today is 11-24-08