The Poultry Keeper

Chute78 · Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 2

Hi all,

I have been keeping chickens for about a year now and I was wondering how much light do chickens need to continue laying at there normal rate. I don't want to turn my chickens into battery style hens, but in winter do I need to give them any extra light for them to lay as normal, and if I do how much light do they need a day. Smile

Knobby · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject:

Hi there....it really depends on the breed......I dont usually see any reduction in egg laying during winter!!!

What breed do u keep ??

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

The optimum light level for egg production is 14 hours a day.

Though, as knobby says it can vary between breeds, pure breeds are much more likely to take a break from laying.

Chute78 · Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 2

Thanks for the replies. The breed is Light Sussex, I bought them about 2 months ago and they were at 18 weeks old (approx) when I got them, so they have only just started to lay.

Again cheers for help

Attila The Hen · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 443 Location: Shetland

Personally I wouldn't use any artificial light to prolong daylight hours for my hens in the winter. I just accept that for a few months my egg supply will diminish or dwindle to nothing. Strictly speaking, with the shortest winter days in the UK my hens ought to stop laying altogether, (and most do), but the last couple of years a few of my hens (my own hybrids, Bovans x Light Sussex) have laid right the way through the winter. We got eggs on Christmas day last year!

My gut feeling though is that for most of them a break from laying is natural, and tinkering with that natural rest-period can only induce a little unnecessary stress to the birds as they work to maintain their laying regime. I guess it depends on what you want from your birds - eggs first and foremost, or the whole hen-experience, which I reckon must mean letting them get on with being a hen in as natural a way as possible.

ath

Aussie Chick · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject:

I think I'm going to bring mine inside, or put a fluro in their pen. I still have NO eggs!! They are getting onto 30 weeks now, this is not funny. !!

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, boing!

Poor Belinda, Crying or Very sad

AtomicRooster · Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 995 Location: Hampshire

Maybe your hens are on Australian time - they think it's the Winter!

Want some of ours?

Aussie Chick · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:49 pm Post subject:

I'm not talking to you two boys anymore. Twisted Evil

I go out every day and search the undergrowth ( I'm talking one Budleia!!). I also confess to the bottom checking ( suggested by Lisa), I think if I remember rightly and i haven't checked back into the original thread. The bone near the bottom needs to be two or three Cm's (in cm's just for you Colin) wide. Well both the Maran and Light Sussex would be lucky to be 1cm and the Bluebelle would be about 2cm. But no eggs. maybe tomorrow.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Aussie Chick · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject:

Knobby · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:09 pm Post subject:

Hey AR...do you train your chooks ????

lilly the pink · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

If your light sussex hens have only just started to lay its very possible that they will lay through the winter months without the need for any artificial light. Light sussex have been selected and bred to do this and are reknowned for their winter laying.

Attila The Hen · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 443 Location: Shetland

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:29 am Post subject: