Small Farms

Wouldn’t you know, as soon as it is Christmas time and I want to make cookies that the chickens would drop off in egg production.  Since I’m not a mass producer of eggs and only produce enough for my family and friends, I can’t afford to leave the lights on in the barn at all hours.

If you aren’t in the know about daylight and egg production, let me explain.  Chickens need sunlight or artificial light in order to continue producing eggs.  During the summer, when the daylight hours are longest, eggs are produced frequently and in greater numbers.  In the winter, since there are fewer hours of daylight, some hens slow down their production or quit altogether.  If you want your hens to keep laying eggs at the same pace as they do in the summer, you have to “trick” them by leaving the lights on.

I suppose if I lived in a warmer climate I may be tempted to keep the lights on for the chickens, but it is so bitter cold that I don’t want to make any more trips out to the barn in the dark than necessary in the winter.

Currently our production is about half what it would be during the summer months.  Next year I’ll remember to leave the lights on in December, at least until my Christmas cookies are all done!

~~Charlotte

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