We're almost at Solstice. Is it time to add light?

[wlantry]

Hey, folks,

I have 14 hens, all born right near the end of March: 5 Buff Orpingtons, 4 Easter Eggers (sold as Auracanas!), 3 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Black Australorps. One easter egger has been laying olive colored eggs nearly every day for the last three weeks, and today I found a brown egg in one of the nest boxes too. I'm a little disappointed it's taken so long for them to start, but oh well.

But now that they're starting, I want them to keep going. Should I add light to their coop? And if so, how much? I assume it shouldn't be as bright as the sun in there. One 40 watt bulb? Really, I'd prefer to just lengthen the day, adding light in the evening. Will that do? Pretty sure I already have a timer lying around somewhere.

Thanks!

 

[MeepBeep]

You don't need much light at all, I recommend for small coops a small under the counter florescent light, low heat, low profile, low fire risk...

Note you need the new 'electronic' ballast versions with electronic start, if you have one of the older ones with the old can style starter that you had to hold the button it for a bit to turn on they won't work with a timer...

http://www.amazon.com/GE-18-Inch-Fluorescent-Fixture-16466/dp/B000HJ75PW

Some people have even use rope light in small coops...

Instead of packing on the light on at the end of the day, I would let the natural sunset dictate their bed time and return to the coop... I would introduce the artificial light in the morning before they leave the coop, or split it up morning and night...