Light in the chicken coop: is it necessary

Do your hens require additional lighting in the coop as the winter months approach and the nights get darker earlier?
From a summer peak of between 14 and 17 hours (18 in northern Scotland, UK; 24 in northern Alaska! ), daylight hours are decreased to, at most, 8 hours by the winter solstice in December (or June, if you live in the southern hemisphere).

Is there lighting in the chicken coop?
It can take as little as 6 hours to get from Alaska to the furthest north of Scotland, and it can take as little as 3 to 4 hours.

So how do hens react to fading light?

And should we illuminate them further during the gloomy winter months?

Why does the coop need more light?

In the early spring, when the day duration reaches 14 hours, chickens start to lay eggs. As the day length lengthens, they steadily produce more eggs.

According to studies, they are at their peak egg-laying capacity when there is around 16 hours of daylight each day (1). It's a marvel of nature, you know.

More eggs equal more chicks, therefore more light is better.

Additionally, chicks that hatch in the milder spring and summer months have a higher chance of surviving than those who do so in the chilly winter months.

The hormones that cause chickens to produce eggs normally drop as light levels do.

In order to prolong their hens' laying for as long as possible during the gloomy winter months, commercial egg producers and some backyard chicken keepers add illumination to coops.

Benwei 's chicken coop lighting for egg production