Simulated daylight

[timselectric]

I usually run around like a chicken with its head chopped off.

 

[Hogheavenfarm]

I have raised chickens for 30 years. I use a light on a timer, chickens need 14 hours of daylight to continue laying. As the light becomes shorter in the fall/winter, they will stop and molt, then egg production will drastically decline for a few months, usually until April. Only fresh pullets (less than 2 yrs old) will continue to lay (sporadically) through the winter, older hens will stop. The light should be timed to come on at about 3:30 am and go off about 8-9am. Allow natural fading of the light in the evening, suddenly turning off the lights if it is already dark will strand hens where they are, they are unable to see in low light.