snowchick Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 A friend of mine was talking about her husbands friend who has 5 chickens. He has the most wonderful eggs from his chooks, however he puts this down to the fact that he has a heat lamp in thier coop along with a string of fairy lights, so it's always light in there. He also feeds them warm food (which I do from time to time (porridge etc) Does anyone know if keeping it light in the coop all the time is the right thing to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I am not sure I like the idea of keeping a chicken pen arfificially light - don't they need & deserve a little rest rather than being made into egg machines? Sorry ,but thats my point of view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I'm not keen on that idea at all....it is unnatural, and is a bit too like a battery hen set up for my liking. I prefer to let my girls experience the natural sunrise, sunset and seasonal changes. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 As Cinnamon said, if you keep a light on the hens won't go into their shut down phase - artificial light almost round the clock is how they keep battery hens laying and get intensively reared meat chickens to keep eating and grow so much. The days are lengthening now so that's the most natural way to get them to lay Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowchick Posted March 8, 2008 Author Share Posted March 8, 2008 I did think it was a bit odd - I just thought I was doing something wrong by not putting a light in the coop. Obviously I'm not, so I'm well chuffed, even if I am "egg-less" my chicks are happy! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 (edited) blimey, if I had light all the time in my eglus my hens would be constantly noisy and not just in the day time! I need my rest !!! Edited March 8, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 I have the most wonderful eggs from my chooks too, and the only light they get is the one in the sky Everyone has their own style of chicken-keeping. Mine is the low-maintenance sort: feed them mainly on pellets but give them regular supplements and treats, provide water as needed, clean them out when absolutely necessary and let them free-range when I'm home and it's light outside. Nothing more fancy than that. I didn't get into this to be an intensive egg farmer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
