Too shady to lay?

[Jmash]

Hi!
I’ve had chickens for three years. My current flock is half 2-3yo and half new layers (6-12 mo). When they free range in the back yard they seem to lay fine, but every time I restrict them to the very shady run behind our fence, they stop laying. Out of 9 chickens I’m only getting 2-3 eggs a day.

I need them out of the backyard and in their large run (just too much poop!). Is the shade the problem? Should I cut some branches from the trees to let in more light? We added supplemental light to the coop to help, and it did for a bit (I was getting zero eggs!!) but another hen seems to have dropped off laying.
What else should I consider??

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What breed/s?
Shade can have an impact but it shouldn't at this time of year. Do you have big windows/openings in the coop to bring in natural light?
It could be stress from being confined.
What are they being fed?

 

[neo71665]

Chickens need 14+ hours of light to lay. They normally slack off in the winter when they don't get this. Swapping them back and forth is stressing the birds and will also effect laying.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree on the stress factor but they don't really need over 14 hours of light to lay. Chickens at the equator rarely get much over 12 hours of light and lay just fine.
What determines hormonal changes stimulating lay is whether days are lengthening or shortening in relation to dark period.

 

[neo71665]

I agree on the stress factor but they don't really need over 14 hours of light to lay. Chickens at the equator rarely get much over 12 hours of light and lay just fine.
What determines hormonal changes stimulating lay is whether days are lengthening or shortening in relation to dark period.

I've heard 12, 14, and 16. I just pick middle of the road.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Ecuador, The Congo and Malaysia never get more than 12 hours and 6 minutes a day of sunlight, yet all their chickens lay eggs.