Please Help Me!

[peepblessed]

Mine always quit this time of year. You have to add extra light if you want to keep them going. Only my pullets keep laying in th winter.

 

[lcammack]

Just enough light to light up your coop. I have a 6' x 6' coop so all I need is a 40 watt bulb. You may need a bigger wattage depending on size of coop. They should get 14 hours of day light. So put it on a timer and adjust to your daylight hours where you live. Have it come on in the morning and a little in the evening if you want so that the total day light is 14 hours. Hope this helps.

 

[Emptywagon2]

I have read on here that it is best to add light in the morning hours so that the chickens are left in total dark trying to find their roost.

 

[speckledhen]

It's the time of year, changing seasons, shortening days. Plus, 8 roosters are way too many for 18 hens. I have 1 rooster for my 18 layers, though I could have 2. Still, maybe 8 of mine are molting heavily and the ones who are finished with that aren't laying again yet, so I'm getting 2-3 eggs from those 19 hens, who are from 2-5 years old. It's the way it is. Remember, they are living creatures, not machines.

Not sure what you mean "where can I get artificial light?". They just mean put a light bulb in. I do not artificially light my coop; it's a personal decision to let their bodies cycle normally to avoid laying issues because I've had so many die from internal laying as it is.

 

[mxpres]

Quote:
You read correctly about the morning light,I have a timer on mine to come on at 3am and go off at 8am for winter time laying.But my hens are laying at full potential so I am going to leave the lights off this winter and let them lay as they may,No use making work horses out of them just for a few extra eggs

 

[FarmerBoy24]

No, I mean where can you get the timer on the light? do you buy it together?

Speckledhen: That's what I figured. Maybe their causing stress.

So anyone want some roos? lol

 

[rancher hicks]

What I see? 2-4 yr olds may be at the end of their laying years. What's the protein?

Daylight? I put two 60 bulbs in the coop to extend the day a few hours. The new energy efficient lights are good.

Scratch, a few hand fulls in the morning and a few at night. Bread and fruit for treats.

Oh and Delawares. You don't say what breeds you've got, but I got 20 from 29 hens yesterday. Though the weather was warm. My Dels barely skipped a beat. And I do keep a flock of new layers and older layers. I have a mixed flock of orps, EE's and RIR's that are the new layers.

the Dels are by themselves.

I wish you the best,

Rancher

 

[FarmerBoy24]

I believe the protein is 16% i'll double check tomorrow when I get more feed.

Breeds: I have many breeds, Gold Stars, Barred Rock, Easter Eggers, Amerucanna, and quite a few mixed breeds with good egg layers

 

[speckledhen]

You can buy a timer separately at a place like Home Depot, Walmart, Lowe's, ACE Hardware, etc.

 

[Bunnieluvr]

I'll bet they are laying somewhere else. Mine have done that twice, and I don't realize it until I come across a little nesting area with 15 or so eggs in it.
Mine are on less than a quarter acre too, so good luck!