Question about lighting

[spock78]

I have 10 Productions Red Hens between a year & 2 yrs.

People are telling me that I need to have a light on in their coop 24/7.

Is this really true & if so what is the light for?

 

[skeeter9]

Not exactly correct - egg production does diminish during the winter when there are fewer daylight hours, so some people put lights in their coops that come on a couple of hours before sunrise to encourage more laying during that time. Production reds are great layers, and you may not see much of a change during the winter. Personally, I prefer to let my girls lay in natural cycles with the seasons.

There are other dicsussions on this topic - you can find them using the "search" feature on this sight.

Hope this helps.

Lori

 

[spock78]

Thanks so much Lori!! That will save on the electric bill..

 

[cookinmom]

I think this info is incorrect. Chickens need night too, to sleep, just like other critters (even us). From what I've heard, to keep eggs up in the winter you can give them 14 hours of daylight, with a light coming on a little before sunup and a little before sundown, but not staying on all night.
Some people don't provide artificial light, and the eggs slow down some, but the chickens are fine.

 

[spock78]

Thanks Cookinmom. That was my thinking also. Everything needs to sleep.