straw beneath roosting poles + light over winter?

[Sandrachx]

i read the messages about deep bedding and it sounds much better than the straw we started using. the flooring under my poles is made of slats 1" apart open to the ground. it's very messy and i hate seeing to much droppings. i may try the idea of a formica-type base and then add the wood shavings.

any advice about the light to keep them laying over the shorter days? went to tractor supply and they gave me a brood lamp -my chickens are all adults now and so i'm not sure i want that much heat in their coop. would a grow bulb (like for plants) on a timer help get them to keep laying?

 

[silkiechicken]

I don't have a floor in my coop as they are all tractor style. As for lighting and heat. I don't use that either. I think it is good for winter time if they can relax and take a break from laying. Laying with light can increase incidence of cancer and shorten life for them. If they are just for eggs though, just rig the timer up for turning on early AM and use natural sun set.