Too much light for chickens?

20 years ago

Ok, final egg question. I heard hens are supposed to lay an egg every 25 hours or so. We have 9 hens total (for sure). They are in a coop and cannot get out unless we let them out, and nothing can get in. We feed them a balanced layer ration, provide plenty of light, and give calcium and grit supplements.We check for eggs morning, afternoon and evening, and rarely if ever miss one. On a handful of occasions we have had 10-12 eggs by the end of the day....even 14 on one occasion!!! I am a little confused...is this even physically possible? Well I suppose it would have to be if it is happening, but is it normal/should I be concerned? The light in the coop is always on...could this have something to do with it?

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Comments (7)

seamommy
20 years ago
Yes, the amount of light will affect how many eggs your chickens lay. Egg laying normally will fall off in winter when days are shorter and will pick up again in summer when the days are longer. If your hens are getting all the right nutrients they may be able to lay more than one egg per day, but eventually it might wear them out. In summer I have noticed that some of my hens will lay more than one egg per day. Cheryl
velvet_sparrow
20 years ago
pssst....it's me...I sneak into your henhouse at night and offload some of my surplus eggs! heh, heh...

Now all I want to know is, which one of you guys is doing the same thing to ME?! Because I also on occassion get too many eggs to fit the Chicken Math... :)

Velvet ~:>
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amiz5904
20 years ago
Victoria, I wouldn't leave the light on all the time, they need to have a sleep cycle and this is likely disturbing them. If you have to (although at this time of the year you probably don't) you can leave it on for 14-16 hours a day, adding light at the beginning of the day rather than at night so they can roost with the sunset instead of being plunged into a dark coop all of a sudden.
victoria1
Original Author
20 years ago
No, the light is on all the time during the day, but not at night so they get some sleep. But thanks for the advice:)
fancifowl
20 years ago
Just have to ask? howcum the light is on during daylight hours???
victoria1
Original Author
20 years ago
Because the coop is really, really really dark inside. There are windows, but a lot of shade trees around the outside so no matter how bright it is outside it is still really dark in there. They are outside most of the day anyway but they come in to eat and drink and the light makes it more welcoming.
beeliz
20 years ago
I want to know what to do for lighting for my 4 hens. It's a fairly small coop they go in at night,about 4 feet by 4 feet,just for the night. They're outside all day,but I do have a light in there (25 watts) as well,with their water and food. Should I have the water in there? I read that they don't need it at night,but the nights are getting LONG! the light comes on at 2 am then off in the morning cause thery spend the whole day outside. Now,will they need the light on all day soon for the winter for warmth?? Can someone please help?? thanks xo