New chicken parent

[Rosita Chick]

I finally convinced my husband to get chickens. The coop and yard was constructed, the four babies grew up and are now beginning to provide us with a couple of eggs a day. Winter is coming and the days are getting shorter. I would like to have the chickens to continue giving us the daily treat and know a certain amount of light is needed for this to happen. We can put a light in the coop, and would like to know what a reasonable light on schedule would look like. Any suggestions?

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to Backyardchickens.com aka BYC!
We are glad you joined our flock.
You could turn on a light an hour or two before the sun rises and let them go to bed with the normal sun down.
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Please check out and enter these two current contest:

Official BYC Coop Article Contest - 2017 - Win a Auto Coop Door Kit

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[Teila]

G’Day from down under Rosita Chick Welcome!

Living in tropical Aus, providing heat and supplemental lighting is not something I have experience with but other folks will definitely be able to assist.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

You might want to also Find Your State Thread and pop in and say hello.

Personally, I have found the Topic of the Week articles a great resource and a one stop shop for questions which may have already been discussed within the BYC membership group.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[N F C]

Thanks for joining us, hope you enjoy it here!

 

[venymae]

I finally convinced my husband to get chickens. The coop and yard was constructed, the four babies grew up and are now beginning to provide us with a couple of eggs a day. Winter is coming and the days are getting shorter. I would like to have the chickens to continue giving us the daily treat and know a certain amount of light is needed for this to happen. We can put a light in the coop, and would like to know what a reasonable light on schedule would look like. Any suggestions?

Welcome! I personally have my light come on at 5am and off at 9am. Then on at 5pm and off at 9pm. I use a cheap $4 timer from home depot.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I hope that you enjoy being a member as much as the rest of us.

 

[drumstick diva]

If chickens get extra light to produce over the winter months, it just means they will stop laying earlier in their life. Hens are like women, once they use up the number of ova - no more eggs.

 

[getaclue]

I wouldn't jump the gun on supplementing their lighting. They are not vending machines. Wait and see how they do.

 

[getaclue]

BTW, WELCOME! Glad you joined.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy that you've joined us