When do your ladies get up and go to bed?

[shandiane78]

I was wondering if the schedule of my hens might explain our lack of eggs. We usually let them out of the coop around 7am, and even thought he coop has 2 windows, they are all still sitting on the top roost when I open the door. Then in the evening, they usually file in around 8pm. I was just realizing this means they are up for only 13 hours. I know they need 14 hours of daylight to lay properly, but does this mean they need to be up and about for at least 14 hours? Should I try to get them out earlier in the morning?

Thanks,
Shannon

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

Ours get on their roosts before dark on their own. We always know when dark is coming because they automatically get up on their roosts for the night. It has been getting dark here around 7-8 p.m.

 

[Kezzie]

I would put a light on a timer in the coop to give an extra hour of light in the morning and an extra hour in the evening. Especially after June when the days start shortening.

 

[redhen]

Sometimes i dont let mine out until 9-10 o'clock in the morning, and they go back in at dusk. But they have windows in the coop for natural light. Come Fall time i'll add a light on a timer for them to give them more light..

 

[scooter147]

They are still getting the proper light in the coop with the windows.
Egg production does slow this time of year, my hens have slowed down a bit the last three weeks.
I open the coop at about 6:30 am during the week and usually no later than 7:30 am on the weekend and 99% of my hens are still on the roost when I open up.

 

[ChooksChick]

Mine are still roosting at 7:00 when I let them out. There are no windows, but the pop door is plexiglass- this lets in enough light for the roo to call a wake-up at 6:45 and then I let them out after I get going.

I live in the middle of town and windows would let roo get going whenever- he only crows a few times of day, so I'm getting away with it for now.

I'm getting reasonable egg production with them going to bed around 8:30- they call the bedtime.

 

[Casey3043]

Mine went through a non-laying period this spring and early summer after a molt. They have only natural light, and have 24 hour access to a secure run. When I get up about 7 or 8, I let them out of the run to roam in the garden and yard.

They are regrowing their feathers and not looking quite so scruffy now, and they are also starting to lay much better. They are 2 years old.

I've heard that if you supply extra light, you should do it in the morning rather than evening. The lights come on and the hens get up earlier, no problem. If the lights go out in the evening, it could be upsetting for them to suddenly be plunged into total darkness with no warning, and be unable to find their roost.

CASEY

 

[valentinebaby]

If my husband remembers to open the pop door before he leaves the house at 5:15 a.m., then they get themselves out by 6:45 a.m. at the latest; otherwise, I usually don't let them out til closer to 7:00. At night, they don't go back in until at least 8:30 p.m. I plan on adding a lightbulb in the coop on a timer when our days start getting shorter. I noticed you lived in Washington (I live in North Texas) and you probably have shorter days than we do here closer to the equator.

 

[chickbea]

Mine can come out of their coop into their outer pen on their own in the morning - they usually are up and at 'em as soon as it starts getting light. They free range at night, and put themselves to bed when they feel like it is getting dark.

 

[cmom]

My birds are always in their coop on their roosts before dark. They have access to their secured run and yard 24 hrs a day. They are alway in their yard in the morning by graylight. I also have a 11 watt red night light always on in their coop.