NY chicken lover!!!!

[fireredcannon]

Hey I was just wondering what everyones take was on lights in the coop at night. Do you think leaving a light on at night would effect laying?

 

[Beer can]

Quote:
I should try that. I was actually thinking maybe pie pans, those twirly things look much nicer Lol!
I haven't free ranged any of my birds much since losing my nicest giant pullet to a hawk, and then catching it trying to take more later. After weeding out the non-breeders I was down to just two and the roo, wasn't taking any chances. Was really hoping to hatch pullets with the dark brown eyes my rooster has (hens are not dark brown, SOP otherwise....) looks like I have at least two, four if two unsure of sex yet end up pullets, couple have yellow eyes, confirmed cockerels have dark brown, but they will be dinner.

 

[Beer can]

Hey! I am from Fulton NY, about 45 minutes away from Syracuse.

Welcome! To BYC!

What do you have for chickens?

 

[Beer can]

Hey I was just wondering what everyones take was on lights in the coop at night. Do you think leaving a light on at night would effect laying?

I've only done it once. It definitely effects laying. I had 15 production reds, left a clear heat lamp above their water bowl all winter to keep it thawed out, well away from where they roosted so I don't think affected their sleep. They all laid every day all winter.
I'd rather let them do their natural thing now. Even with no supplemental light I usually have some laying in the winter. My two giants started in the cold part of winter and laid every day, easter eggers also didn't skip a beat. Half my birds quit, but still didn't have to buy eggs.
If you do use a light you can put it on a timer if you want.

 

[fireredcannon]

I'm curious if it's having an effect on when they start laying,they are 15 1/2 weeksish but my barred rocks are larger and more mature looking than one I picked up the other day that is 8 weeks older.

 

[fireredcannon]

Been on game bird starter and grower throughout

 

[Gramma Chick]

I'm curious if it's having an effect on when they start laying,they are 15 1/2 weeksish but my barred rocks are larger and more mature looking than one I picked up the other day that is 8 weeks older.

So You are think lights will help them start laying earlier ?
It probably wont ...it is a physical thing ...the egg laying machine has to mature
you dont want them to lay early....ones that do sometimes have problems later with prolasped vents .
I had white rocks that laid at 4 1/2 months most all have had egg laying problems ..later on .
Keep them on starter or grower till they start laying ..
I know it is hard to be patient ...waiting for that 1st egg ..IT will Come !


A story about a egg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...e-3in-tall-egg-hearing-strange-squawking.html

 

[Gramma Chick]

Hey! I am from Fulton NY, about 45 minutes away from Syracuse.

Welcome ! What do you have ?
you are not too far from me in Jordan

 

[fireredcannon]

@grammachick Well I was actually thinking the opposite,i personally left the light on for months so that if there were a predator in the night it would be easier to shoot at. But then I began to wonder without that natural on/off if that would alter growth negatively due to the lack of real sleep. So i decided to turn it off and see how they act, but like I said I thought it was odd I picked up my girls of April 27th at maybe a week or two old and I picked up an early Feb hatched barred rock two days ago that is roughly 1/3 smaller than my barred rocks but at least 6-8 weeks older,although she was kept without a light...

 

[boskelli1571]

the shape of the shadow on the left.. to me it looks like a animal

Chicken?? I just noticed it!