Point of lay pullets not laying in winter, any suggestions? 🙏🏼😊

[hannahsocal]

Yes they always have run access! They’re just white outdoor lights.

Do they go to roost when the sun goes down, before the light is turned off?

A timer is pretty important, IMO.
Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.

Yes even though the light is on in the run they go into the coop to roost when sunset happens. Maybe I should block off the sides of the run so they don’t know it’s night?

 

[aart]

Yes even though the light is on in the run they go into the coop to roost when sunset happens. Maybe I should block off the sides of the run so they don’t know it’s night?

IMO, supplemental light should be on a timer coming on early morning where the roost and feed/water is.
Did you read the article I linked?

 

[David61]

I'm waiting on my 20 week old flock to start. It will be the second time i have had new layers at Christmas. I had ten brown egg 20 week olds Christmas three years ago. I got my first egg Christmas day. all were laying by ground hogs day. I am hoping for the same outcome with my new flock of 14 brown egg layers.

 

[hannahsocal]

IMO, supplemental light should be on a timer coming on early morning where the roost and feed/water is.
Did you read the article I linked?

Yes I did read it! Interesting. Feed water is in the run not the coop for me, maybe I should probably light the coop/roosts as well that’s a good idea! The sun is rising around 7am and setting at 5pm here, and it doesn’t seem feasible to turn the light on at 2am does it?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Yes I did read it! Interesting. Feed water is in the run not the coop for me, maybe I should probably light the coop/roosts as well that’s a good idea! The sun is rising around 7am and setting at 5pm here, and it doesn’t seem feasible to turn the light on at 2am does it?

No, it doesn’t.
Honestly, please just leave them be. They sound like they are almost ready to start laying. I know it’s tough, but it’s better to wait a little while then find all the ways you can to push them into it. Plus, changes in lighting, siding on the run, heat, etc, are actually more likely to stress them out, which could actually lead to a longer wait.
Let nature do her thing. The eggs will come.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

When I was expecting the eggs to start coming and came here to get advice, I was told that the whole supplemental light thing was mostly used for mass production, and that they would lay when they lay. I was also asked “what’s the rush?”, and for me, I was just anxious. I’m not sure of the answer to this, but is it bad for chickens to force them into laying? I’m excited for you-come back with an update when it shows up

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Oh really? Okay, at what temp should I put supplemental heat in then to make them think it’s spring?

I dont have one in my coop and its below 10 degrees. Mine went without supplemental heat in negative temps.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

So supplemental lighting helps then? Maybe I should put light in the coop too and not just the run. My pullets are doing nesting behavior right now (sitting and starting to make nests, finding spots to lay in, squatting for the boys) so it SEEMS like they’re ready. Idk

The light is not necessary in the run. If they are squatting they are close, or they are laying but hiding the eggs(my girls do this all the time).

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

When I was expecting the eggs to start coming and came here to get advice, I was told that the whole supplemental light thing was mostly used for mass production, and that they would lay when they lay. I was also asked “what’s the rush?”, and for me, I was just anxious. I’m not sure of the answer to this, but is it bad for chickens to force them into laying? I’m excited for you-come back with an update when it shows up

I was this way to, waiting and waiting for my 5 this year to lay. Some were ready for 4 weeks. I went on here and asked everyone said to wait. My main reason is i had a dud last year before i got theses ones, she still wasnt laying at 65 weeks old. Its better to wait then to rush them into laying. It may stress them out a lot.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You cannot force them to lay. They're not machines, they're living animals. The chances of a bird coming into lay exactly when the breed average says is pretty low.

Shining a light for extremely extended periods of time means they aren't getting quality sleep at night, and artificially heating them when your temperatures are quite literally the same as my summer temps is a fire risk.