Supplemental lights for chicken?

Well then, here are my thoughts and considerations on adding supplemental light to the coop - to keep the egg laying up :)

For those who wonder why: When the days get short and the dark period increases, hens ovaries take a break. Increasing the light duration to over 14 hours per day stimulates the chicken system to lay more eggs in the winter months, when the days are shorter. Or rather, not seeing such a long dark time - the hen's ovaries don't go "dormant". So some folks will start the day early by turning on the lights in the morning when it is still dark outside.

There is always the question: will it hurt the hens to keep laying all year? Will it shorten their life span? Does she have enough eggs? And, for the animal welfare folks: is it abusive?

Hm - professional folks will tell you: it does not shorten their life span. At least, I suppose it has not been studied so therefore I would not expect to see any evidence. Of course, most all professional layer farmers get rid of their hens after 18 months - so really, how do we know?

But then, would you mind if the hens died earlier if they stopped laying, or greatly reduced the number of eggs they lay?

Will the hen run out of eggs by continuing to lay through the winter: no.

Is it healthy for her to keep laying so much all the time - no - and in fact, artificial light is only recommended as long as you allow the hens to molt and take a break from laying to recharge every year as well as have high quality and adequate nutrition.

So this year - looking at my feed cost and the fact that I don't eat meat or eat grains: I would LIKE more eggs ...hm ...

I could put electric in the coop via a card and I could get a timer to start their day early, checking the total sunlight perior and then adjust the time. After their molt - I'd enjoy more eggs .... enough to sell some too, which does help with the feed cost (organic feed cost especially)

But I am thinking: I don't know that it does not hurt them ...who is to say what it really feels for them to "have to" lay an egg a day, more or less. all year - being tricked into perceiving that it is really "springtime". There is no place on this planet where sunlight is over 14 hours every day all year long - not a single place.

And even if there were - hen would lay and brood (take a break from laying) lay and brood.

I am quite undecided about it - for this year, I welcome the break they are getting - including from the roosters, who can mingle with the flock without anyone getting too much attention, fighting or bare backs ...and that is a good thing.

I am still getting enough eggs to eat for myself - and i can tell you, p ay a premium for them - and they are worth it :)

I LOVE they they are getting all their feathers back - they needed to molt - and needed the break.
Hopefully the pullets will take over soon ....

It is always a balance game and what your priorities or preferences are.

If you DO decide to supplemental light in your coop: fluorescent is really bad for chickens.