Too light to lay?

[SteevK]

Hi world,
I’ve been told that if hens don’t get enough light they stop laying. The second hand (home built) hen house I bought has a large-ish window in the front and a small one in the side and the two hens that came with it provide my breakfast almost every other day. I have just bought another commercially built coop as a quarantine house for some ex-batts I hope to get next month. This has no windows in it at all. Can anyone shed some light (light some shed!!) on this? Have I been mis-informed? Could my first house be in fact, too light which is why the girls are laying only every 2 or 3 days? (I have no history of the girls, so this may be just the way things are).
Many thanks

[Glutton4...]

I think the 'saying' refers to daylight hours. Hens kept indoors are under artificial light, which keeps them laying. I reckon the only time you'd have a problem is if they were shut in in the dark all the time - which is unnatural for them. Assuming they'll be outside during daylight hours, you'll have no worries.

Your girls may be slowing down with age, laying only every second or third day now, this is why the 'Battery' Hens are 'discarded' after a year. Good luck with your 'Batties' they are very rewarding to keep.

A coop doesn't need a window, but it does need ventilation - this is crucial

[SteevK]

Hi Glutton 4..
many thanks for the info (on this and on all the other threads I have been reading )

[Glutton4...]

Are you saying I talk too much!?






Now't new there then!

[Suechooks]

My vet tells me that hens need 10 hours of daylight for maximum laying. Obviously more is good too! Thats why the pure breeds tend to go off-lay in winter.
Hybrids tend to ignore that rule! They just do their own thing!
Pleased to see you're getting ex-batts! Lots of smiles and tears!

[SteevK]

Thank you both for the information.... and Glutton 4, if you didn't 'talk too much', how would newbies like me know anything

[Hilary B]

It's not JUST how much daylight, but also how long each day is compared to the last. When days are getting longer they will lay well before it reaches 10 hours a day, but when days are shortening they will start to slow down........