Single hen

[Palmer06]

Ok this may sound stupid to some, i have read and heard chickens lay less in the winter due to the shorter days. I take this is due to the light.

If you were to give chickens Artificial light would they still lay???

The reason i say this as we keep ferrets aswell and we keep some of them indoors and they dont keep to the same kind of routine in live as the ones kept out side!

 

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but i was just wondering!

[jomaxsmith]

Battery farming uses a similar technique to make hens lay constantly so I don't think it's a great idea for your hens if they're mainly pets rather than egg producing machines

 

Hybrids in particular have been bred to lay most of the year and as a consequence get 'worn out' earlier than pure breeds so perhaps it's fair to let them have a bit of a rest in the winter!

 

So, in answer to your question, by extending the hours of light artificially you could probably encourage your hens to keep laying during the winter.

 

If you have hybrids you'll probably still get some eggs without introducing artificial light - maybe 3 or 4 a week rather than 6 or 7.

 

Jo

 

EDIT: just noticed you have silkies, not hybrids - oops!

[Palmer06]

Thankyou! I was just wondering as our silkies are just there as pets and the eggs are a very good added bonus! As i said, i was wondering as our ferrets have changed a little!

[helenmb]

I seem to remeber reading somewhere that battery hens are subjected to 15 hours of 'day light' a day to keep them laying (not nice eh!). So with reduced right you will normally expect pure breeds to lay less or not even at all until the days start to lengthen. My hybrids have always layed in the winter but maybe have had the odd day off.

[KB and Chicks]

This is eggciting - my first post.....I have already noticed a decline from my 3 girls. Should this be the case in October or could I be missing something? They have always missed a day roughly every week (a rest day) but one is now laying every other day and today I had no eggs which is unusual all together.

They all seem pretty fit and happy and I cant find any lice or any thing, as its my first foray into chicken world I would be interested in an 'eggperts' opinion?

 

KB and Chicks

[Hen Watch]

This is eggciting - my first post.....I have already noticed a decline from my 3 girls. Should this be the case in October or could I be missing something?

 

Hi KB and Chicks and welcome to the forum.

 

How old are your chooks?

What breed are they? Hybrid or purebreed?

[KB and Chicks]

Hiya

 

My chicks are hybrids, a Bluebell, Hy-line and a Black Rock (ish). The Hy-line is the youngest and only started laying about 7 weeks ago - she was laying everyday and then after about 2 weeks (when we went on hols) started laying ever other day and has been doing that ever since. The other two are a little older and laid from day one. They were about 22 weeks old when I got them in July so must be about 7-8 months old??

 

KB and chicks