Adding Supplemental Lighting to Keep Up Egg Production in the Fall/Winter

As the sun sun sets earlier in the fall and winter months, many chicken keepers may notice a decline in egg production from their chickens. One effective solution to combat this seasonal slump is the strategic use of supplemental lighting in the chicken coop and run.

A seasonal drop in egg production is an expected, hormone-driven response to decreased light in fall and winter.

Contrary to what some may think, adding supplemental lighting to a chicken coop/run during the darker months of the year will not harm your hens or cause her to ever run out of eggs.

A baby chick is hatched with a lifetime supply of ova (yolks) already set. She will have hundreds of thousands and would take decades of daily egg production to deplete. A hen will stop laying because of old age, long before she would run out of eggs.

Supplemental light will not force a hen to lay eggs, rather it provides them with the needed resource to lay eggs if they already have all the other resources needed.

Resources include:

1. Age- The first two years of a hens life is the most productive. After her first year she will begin her annual molt, anywhere after June 21st which is the longest day of the year. Shortening of days stimulates their hormones to bring on molting. The molt is necessary to replenish bone stores , rebuild feather strength and let the hens gain some muscle and fat stores.

   
   

2. Diet- They need a nutritionally complete diet and clean water is essential.

   
   

3. Health- Diet plays a big role in their health.

4. Molting- When laying hens molt annually egg production will slow down if not cease completely.

5. Low Stress- A few factors can affect egg production. Attack from a predator or new chickens added to the flock.

   
   
   
   

   CHOOSING THE RIGHT TYPE OF LIGHTING

   
   

   Not all lights are created equal when it comes to illuminating your chicken coop/run. Here are a few factors to consider when selecting the best lighting solutions:

1. Light Quality- Use full-spectrum LED lights for your coop/run, as they closely mimic natural sunlight. This helps hens adjust better and promotes their reproductive cycles more effectively.

   Rope lighting is the better option as it makes for ease of cleaning compared to mini lights. Chickens are naturally dusty as they are constantly generating new feathers.

   
   

2. Intensity- The light intensity should be moderate-to bright can stress your birds, while too dim may not provide enough stimulation.

   
   

3. Duration and Timing- Generally, its best to stimulate a natural environment by turning on lights early in the morning. It is not recommended to extend the lights into the evening, when the lights go out, your chickens are now in the dark possibly on the floor and can not see to get back to the roost.

   It will be necessary to have your lighting in the coop and run coordinate together if they are not on the same timer, to make it possible for the chickens to access their food and water within an hour or so of waking. ( best practices with keeping chickens is that their food and water should be in the run.)

   It is advisable to follow a consistent lighting schedule, providing about 14-16 hours of light per day to maximize egg production.

   Chickens should not receive more than 16 hours of light in a 24 hour period as they need at least 8 hours of complete darkness to get restorative sleep. Too much light can cause stress and can lead to problems like feather picking.

   
   
   
   

I have studied this topic through veterinarian Dr. Mike Petrik, DVM, MSC, who has training and a Master of Science in Animal Welfare from Ontario, Canada.

We purchased these Mini Rope Lights last Fall. We recommend them as they are also easy to wipe clean, as chickens generate an sufficient amount of dust.

You may also be interested in other items we have available in our ROSLIN RECOMMENDATIONS | Roslin Poultry Ranch Amazon Affiliate Shop for all your Chicken Care needs.