Using light in the Coop

[riredchickn]

Of my 7 girls, only one has started laying. They are not quite 5 mos. old. Will they begin laying in these shorter days without artificial light?

 

[Judy]

Some breeds lay better in winter than others. You can check Henderson's for this for specific breeds, but in the end they are individuals.

If you add light I recommend you pick up a timer, around $10 at our local hardware. Otherwise they will have light all night, which is definitely not a good idea for their health and rest. I added light last year for the first time, one 40W bulb on a timer, set to come on early AM so that the hours of "daylight" came out to 14, then go off after sunrise. I reset it every month or so as needed. I agree it's better to do it this way than in the PM so they get a natural, gradual darkening and movement to the roosts.

Before I did this, I think the Australorps were basically the only ones laying all winter. With light, most or all of them did. This year I may try it without, as I have more "good layer" breeds now. If we have to buy eggs, the light will go back on.

There are always debates on here about this not giving them a rest period, which is natural for them. But they get rest periods when broody or molting, too. It's a personal choice.