Proof in the Eggs

[Derry-NH]

Winter time means shorter days and less eggs. But it doesn't have to be that way. I put a small tiny light bulb in my Coupe on a timer with 4 hours extra at dawn and 4 extra hours at dusk. Look at my results.

November. Count
26. 3
27. 3
28. 3
29. 1
30. 2
December 1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 2
6. 2
7. 2
Start new light system
8. 3
9. 4
10. 6
11. 3
12. 5
13. 5
14. 5
15. 3
16. 6
17. 6
18. 6
19. 5

 

[Stayc]

Nice. Good to know. Thanks for sharing

 

[MontanaChickDoc]

I don't know, I prefer to give the chickens a winter break so that their bodies can recuperate. I think they will be more productive for a longer time that way (longer time to "burnout"). I get around winter egglessness by having a few new birds every summer (June hatch) which start to lay right around this time of year. I know that is not practical for everyone though.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I don't know, I prefer to give the chickens a winter break so that their bodies can recuperate. I think they will be more productive for a longer time that way (longer time to "burnout"). I get around winter egglessness by having a few new birds every summer (June hatch) which start to lay right around this time of year. I know that is not practical for everyone though.

I also like to give my girls a break to rejuvenate their bodies.

 

[rebrascora]

How old are your girls? I think the chances are that you have started your artificial lighting just as your girls were coming back into lay naturally. I don't use supplementary lighting and my 2 yr old Marans and welsummer cross have just started back up. My older ladies 3+ yrs are starting to redden up in the comb and I hope to see eggs from them in the next few weeks. Personally I also prefer to let their bodies decide naturally when it is time to start back up again. There are too many posts on this forum about birds with reproductive disorders that suggest they have already been pushed too far with selective breeding and other artificial manipulation to increase egg production.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I am also on the band wagon of letting them do what they naturally would do, which in this case means they would have a winter break. I went into the winter with three laying. Since then I think 4 more have started, based on egg color and size, but two of those original layers have stopped laying. On average, right now, out of 12 pullets, I'm getting 3-4 a day. I can't wait to see how many eggs I'm gonna get later this spring!

 

[aart]

So 8 hours added total?
Not sure where you live, but that would be about 17 hours here-much more than needed.
How old are these birds?

 

[rebrascora]

Age of birds is very relevant... it was my first thought.

For information, if you are going to give supplemental lighting, it is better to start in September/October and add half an hour every couple of weeks rather than suddenly adding 8 hrs to the day in the depths of winter. I appreciate that you feel you have gained something by this but the natural rhythms of the seasons are important to animals and suddenly disrupting them can have unforeseen effects.

 

[Chickassan]

I'm glad you're getting more eggs, but personally i don't mess with my girls natural schedule they're already looney enough.

 

[lazy gardener]

It's an individual decision, and there is no right or wrong regarding whether supplemental lighting is provided. Studies show that if nutrient levels are sufficient, and if the birds have a break to complete a molt, that they do just as well with supplemental light as they do without it. Cessation of laying is related to age of bird, not related to the bird "running out of ova" due to being on a lighting schedule. A very good discussion was posted by a poultry vet discussing supplemental lighting just yesterday.