She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[lazy gardener]

I'm already using my winter lights on a timer to keep a 14 hour light cycle for the flock and not have to increase it later on. How many of you use artificial lighting and when do you start?

ETA: I know lighting affects egg production, but does it do anything to affect the cocks breeding? Do the cocks slow down breeding in the winter or does it depend on temps, snow, space, etc?

I give extra light. But, I let them wind down and start my light when the cold weather starts in October, and production is slowing. I know of one keeper who keeps them on a 14 hour cycle year round, and then he shuts off lights for 2 weeks in September to induce a molt when the weather is appropriate for chickens to be running around naked. I have a 3 y.o. RIR who looks like she belongs in the meat case in the very cold dead of winter. I'm getting little tiny pullet eggs now. Jack's gene pool is quite mixed up. Getting browns and one white. Was expecting greens and blues. SC. I'd love to get some Am eggs from you in the spring!!

 

[scflock]

Do any in that pen go broody and hatch out their own chicks?
I'm wondering this too. I added a light (10 watt red) when I first moved the young ones into the coop at night. Now they have a fit if I don't turn it on! So I'm setup to have a light but was wondering the details as well.

The older EEs used to go broody, but not any more. Maybe the younger EE girls will. They just started laying a few weeks ago. I hope they will, because the marans and the Ams will keep the incubator tied up.
Sounds like a good excuse for an Ova Easy, huh?

 

[WVduckchick]

The older EEs used to go broody, but not any more. Maybe the younger EE girls will. They just started laying a few weeks ago. I hope they will, because the marans and the Ams will keep the incubator tied up.
Sounds like a good excuse for an Ova Easy, huh?

Excellent excuse!!

 

[scflock]

Excellent excuse!! 

 

[FridayYet]

I'm already using my winter lights on a timer to keep a 14 hour light cycle for the flock and not have to increase it later on. How many of you use artificial lighting and when do you start?

ETA: I know lighting affects egg production, but does it do anything to affect the cocks breeding? Do the cocks slow down breeding in the winter or does it depend on temps, snow, space, etc?

I just let my chickens follow nature's cycle - but then, I'm further South than you and I'm just doing this for a hobby. As long as I have eggs to eat, and some to trade with neighbors, I'm good.

I give extra light. But, I let them wind down and start my light when the cold weather starts in October, and production is slowing. I know of one keeper who keeps them on a 14 hour cycle year round, and then he shuts off lights for 2 weeks in September to induce a molt when the weather is appropriate for chickens to be running around naked. I have a 3 y.o. RIR who looks like she belongs in the meat case in the very cold dead of winter. I'm getting little tiny pullet eggs now. Jack's gene pool is quite mixed up. Getting browns and one white. Was expecting greens and blues. SC. I'd love to get some Am eggs from you in the spring!!

That's the problem with EE cocks. Even if they came from a blue or green egg, you don't know if they actually inherited the blue egg gene. I try to find my EEs and OEs that have one true Ameraucana parent, but unless you know the breeder, you never really know. That's why I really want to keep my Wheaten boy - he should have blue genes to pass on.

 

[scflock]

I just let my chickens follow nature's cycle - but then, I'm further South than you and I'm just doing this for a hobby.  As long as I have eggs to eat, and some to trade with neighbors, I'm good.


That's the problem with EE cocks.  Even if they came from a blue or green egg, you don't know if they actually inherited the blue egg gene.  I try to find my EEs and OEs that have one true Ameraucana parent, but unless you know the breeder, you never really know.  That's why I really want to keep my Wheaten boy - he should have blue genes to pass on.

I worry about that with the EEs, so I won't be incubating their eggs. I will put an Am rooster in the mixed pen, and will have another pen to breed Olive Eggers with the Am and BCM. Does anyone know if it is preferable to have the rooster be from the Ams or BCM?

 

[scflock]

I give extra light.  But, I let them wind down and start my light when the cold weather starts in October, and production is slowing.  I know of one keeper who keeps them on a 14 hour cycle year round, and then he shuts off lights for 2 weeks in September to induce a molt when the weather is appropriate for chickens to be running around naked.  I have a 3 y.o. RIR who looks like she belongs in the meat case in the very cold dead of winter.    I'm getting little tiny pullet eggs now.  Jack's gene pool is quite mixed up.  Getting browns and one white.  Was expecting greens and blues.  SC. I'd love to get some Am eggs from you in the spring!!

I'm hoping there are enough girls in this first batch to have some available. The birds look better every week, and the purple sheen is being replaced with green as they molt

 

[FridayYet]

I follow an OE group on Facebook. They say the you should use your Roo that came from the darkest egg. I'll try to convert the pdf......

 

[scflock]

I follow an OE group on Facebook.  They say the you should use your Roo that came from the darkest egg.  I'll try to convert the pdf......

So the roo from the BCM?

 

[FridayYet]

For you, yes. For me, no - because I don't have one..