Upcoming Winter and light.

[The Coop-D-etat]

How old are they, in months?
I let mine molt then start the lighting in mid December.
Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.

They are 5 months half have started laying. Waiting for for the other 5.

 

[GC-Raptor]

That's exactly what I needed to know. Thank you.

Welcome.
GC

 

[3KillerBs]

I do have two small-ish windows on the north side and east sides of the coop. But I'm worried that won't produce much light during the shorter days.

Could you post photos?

Do you have any vents other than those windows?

 

[The Coop-D-etat]

Could you post photos?

Do you have any vents other than those windows?

Yes I'll post pictures. Venting yes on the north side i have soffit and fascia that isn't blocked off from rising air and this fall I'm adding 4 vents on the south wall for good cross ventilation.

 

[The Coop-D-etat]

Could you post photos?

Do you have any vents other than those windows?

North side with the fascia inside and out.

South side where I'll be installing 4 vents above the door trim.

Sorry it took so long to get photos one of my hens was in the midst of laying her first egg and I didn'twant to disturb her. That makes 6 laying now woo!

 

[3KillerBs]

View attachment 2811011View attachment 2811013
North side with the fascia inside and out.
View attachment 2811014
South side where I'll be installing 4 vents above the door trim.

Sorry it took so long to get photos one of my hens was in the midst of laying her first egg and I didn'twant to disturb her. That makes 6 laying now woo!

If you took the top board off over the door and replaced it with hardware cloth it would offer both light and fresh air.

 

[aart]

There's definitely variations to the rule. For example, my broody didn't lay for about 12 weeks (sitting, hatching, then rearing chicks) so she restarted laying in December and laid consistently until March. My spring pullets always start around Nov/Dec. My barred rock kept laying until Nov when all others stopped in Aug.

I recently acquired two commercial ex bat leghorns and I'm interested to see what happens to their laying cycle come winter.

Most of the rest of my flock stop laying in Aug and start in March. Not exactly sure of the daylight hours during the "off period" but I do know it's not a long day. I leave work when it's dark and come home when it's dark.....

So you've never used lights before?
I use timanddate.info to find the sunrise/sunset/day length.

Yes, color makes a difference.
For egg production you want the red spectrum lights, warm, soft, 2700 to 3000 K.

Thanks for posting this.
Checked my CFL light and they are 1600 lumens at 2700K.
Also have 800/3000 LED....not sure what's out there now.

 

[The Coop-D-etat]

If you took the top board off over the door and replaced it with hardware cloth it would offer both light and fresh air.

Oh that's actually a pretty good idea! My only concern is rain/snow blowing in. But on that note I do plan on building a pvc gable with a canvas type msterial for above the door stretching out a few feet, so that might deter it some.

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh that's actually a pretty good idea! My only concern is rain/snow blowing in. But on that note I do plan on building a pvc gable with a canvas type msterial for above the door stretching out a few feet, so that might deter it some.

A "porch" for the chicken coop often seems to feature on good coop designs -- giving the chickens shelter outside their actual coop.

Mine have a beat-up picnic fly.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

So you've never used lights before?
I use timanddate.info to find the sunrise/sunset/day length.

No I don’t use lights. While I wouldn’t mind for some of the flock members to lay more often, one of them holds a special place in my heart, and I’d be happier honestly if she never laid again.