Night lights

[pdblake]

It was suggested (by the breeder who supplied ours) that to keep the hens in full lay over winter that they might need a night light.

Do any of you use one and what kind do you use if you do? I was thinking of something solar powered if I bother at all.

[bluemoon]

I think 'Rooster Booster' do either a solar powered unit or one which runs on a car battery. They're expensive though and I doubt you'd ever recoup the cost in extra eggs. We did consider it, but decided to allow our girls to have as normal a life as possible and if this means a slow down in winter then so be it. We've done everything we can to maximize the light available to them, they're in the middle of the plot and not shaded by hedges, the inside of their houses are painted white and the houses are well lit with ventilation points which can be closed against a prevailing wind, but left open on the other sides, but this is as far as we're going to go.

[HayleyB]

We have a grab light which is on a timer so it switches off at 9pm and on at about 7am I think..

[pdblake]

Crikey, I see what you mean about expensive. Looks like natural light then

[Bramble-Poultry]

I let mine go off lay over teh winter - it encourages them to regain condition.

lights are available for hens but they are not cost effective unless you have 100's of hens.

there are some breeds of bird that will lay in lower light intensities, if you want regular winter layers perhaps get a couple fo these. otherwise just settle for tehodd one or two you will get.

[Two_Sheds]

It's unnatural for the hens to lay in winter, so is it unethical / cruel to force them?

[MaureenHall]

I never thought about having a light on for my girls last winter and they continued to give me 5 - 6 a day which wasn't much different to when I first got them. There was 9 ex-batts, 2 Bluebelles and 2 Black Stars. If they were still with me, I think the ex-batts might have stopped laying by now anyway. I think I'll be letting Mother Nature take over this winter. If I get eggs then fine, if not, that's fine too

[lettucegrow!]

I'm with you twosheds on this one. Surely you're going down the battery route if you try to keep them in lay. They follow the seasons for a reason- give the body a rest and lay again when daylight hours dictate. Let nature do it's thing. We'll have to eat something else over the winter!!

[Flummery]

I think their bodies need a rest. 'The Trade' keep them in lay because they want the maximum yield and are prepared to dispose of the birds when that yield drops. Mine are pets (that so far give me an egg a day each!) I think they've earned a break.

[frias]

My ex-batts laid well all last winter without the use of a night light. The older ones only lay an occasional softie now which I wish they wouldn't. I'm quite happy for them to live in retirement.They use lighting in the battery farms to get maximum eggs for one year. Then the hens are considered spent and they get rid of them. I think the girls would be a lot healthier and live longer if left to rest if they want to.

[pdblake]

Hmm, I think you're all right. Neither affordable or ethical. I think I'll let them do their own thing and let them be happier for it

Just a thought.

[lettucegrow!]

You know it makes sense!! Save your cash for more chooks- more chance of getting some eggs in the dark days!

[di]

We also let ours have the break,although the Isa's didn't seem to take it anyway!
If you really wanted to try it,someone suggesed to us just to get a normal light fixed into their coop...don't know if it would work or not?

[TPeers]

If you can secure them safely such that the birds can't peck them then a cool low-voltage energy efficient mini strip would give enough light - put it on a timer (cheap) and use something like a car battery or one of those fancy battery packs for caravans.

No idea what the set up would cost - the battery pack would be the main cost factor, other than that maybe £20?

[pdblake]

....although the Isa's didn't seem to take it anyway!

Ours are ISAs too so I'm not sure that there's anything to be bothered about anyway.