To Light Or Not To Light?

[rancher hicks]

I have two 60 watt lights in the coop that is turned on in the morning and off around 8pm. Use the new energy efficient bulbs and it's cheap enough.

Up the scratch in the evening to keep them warm. Send them to bed with a full stomach. I give them Layer feed on demand and Lord have mercy, plenty of water. Oh and a little whole grain bread and greens of whatever I can find.

From 30 hens of assorted breeds and ages. I get 15-16 eggs.

 

[mamabigbird]

We have a 60 watt bulb on a timer. It comes on for 2 hours in the morning and shuts off at sun rise.
I don't have it on in the evening because my hens free range and I want them to follow their instincts to go to roost with the sunset.
I feel that if the light is on after dark they are more likely to be eating, squabbling and messing around. Then when the light goes off they are caught in the dark
and won't move so may be left on the floor or not cuddled up in their favorite spot.
These days it is dark at 4:30 but they are all in their spots by 4:00 ready to be counted and locked up.
The extra two hours of light in the morning seems to be keeping them laying.