Supplemental Lighting for Chickens: The Pros and Cons

If you raise your chickens for eggs and depend on their production, seeing a drastic decrease in your eggs is upsetting. And one of the easiest and most effective ways to boost egg production during the fall and winter months is to add supplemental lighting to your chicken coop. But this has it’s pros and cons. So read more below!

Should You Have a Light in Your Chicken Coop?

I typically have anywhere from 20-40 hens on my farm, and they are the heart of my little homestead. Not only do I enjoy having them around, but I also depend on their eggs for both my family and friends. 

There have been years where I’ll go from getting around 30 eggs a day to about 5 and it’s always a shock!

But the decrease in egg production is largely due to shorter days during fall and winter. Hens need at least 14 hours of light each day to maintain steady egg production. 

As the days grow shorter, the natural light decreases, leading hens to produce fewer eggs—or none at all.

So, should you have a light in your chicken coop? The answer is yes if you want to maintain consistent egg production throughout the shorter days of fall and winter.

Or you can give them a break from laying during the darker months (which is perfectly fine) and in many cases the best choice for the health of your hens.

Another thing to take note of is that almost all young pullets will lay through their first winter without any decrease in egg production. Which is why I try to add new chickens to my flock every 2 years so that I always have young laying hens.

Can Too Much Light Be Bad for Chickens?

While light is important for egg production, too much of it can be stressful for chickens. Overexposing hens to artificial light for extended periods can cause stress, which may lead to health issues or even a decline in egg production over time. 

Chickens, like most animals, have natural rhythms that align with sunrise and sunset. If their environment doesn’t allow for a proper night’s rest, it can disrupt their sleep cycles and overall well-being.

So if you choose to add supplemental lighting to your coop I recommend having the light turn on early in the morning rather than extending it into the evening. Turning on lights before sunrise allows your chickens to start their day earlier while still letting them naturally wind down as the sun sets. 

If the light is left on too late into the evening, it can confuse the chickens, leading to roosting issues or restlessness. 

Chickens need darkness to sleep properly, so giving them a break from artificial lighting after dark is crucial for their health.

What Does Light Do to Chickens?

Light plays a key role in stimulating egg production in chickens. Hens need about 14 to 16 hours of daylight to consistently lay eggs. 

When the days get shorter in fall and winter, their bodies receive the signal to reduce or stop laying eggs altogether. This is a natural survival mechanism that conserves their energy for the colder months ahead.

By adding supplemental light in the coop, you can trick their bodies into thinking the days are still long enough to continue producing eggs. 

The light stimulates their pituitary gland, which in turn triggers the reproductive system to keep producing eggs. In essence, light ensures that your hens stay in “laying mode,” even during the darker months of the year.

The Impact of Molting on Egg Production

Light isn’t the only factor that affects egg production. Molting is another natural process that can temporarily halt egg-laying. Molting usually occurs in chickens after they reach about 18 months of age, and it often starts in the fall when the days are getting shorter.

During a molt, chickens lose their old feathers and grow in new ones, which requires a lot of energy and nutrients. As a result, hens stop laying eggs to focus on feather regrowth. 

For more information on molting chickens check out your guide to molting chickens. 

How I Add Supplemental Lighting to My Chicken Coop

In most years I do not add supplemental lighting. However there have been years that we’ve had such a drastic decrease in egg production that I will add supplemental lighting for a couple of months during the winter.

All I use is an LED shop light, which I hang from the ceiling of the coop. 

This light is connected to a mechanical timer that turns the light on at 2 a.m. and off around 6:00 am, just as the sun is rising. This setup ensures that my hens get the 14-16 hours of light they need to keep laying eggs, even during the shorter days of winter.

It’s important to note that hens don’t need heat lamps—just a regular light bulb will do. I prefer to turn the light on early in the morning to start the day sooner, rather than extending light after dark. 

Chickens naturally begin to roost as the sun sets, and disturbing this routine can confuse them. When the light shuts off suddenly in the evening, it doesn’t give them time to settle in, which can cause them to miss the roosts and disrupt their natural cycle.

Results of Adding Supplemental Light to My Coop

Like I mentioned earlier, in most years I prefer to give my hens a break and do not typically add light during the shorter days. However, when I have added supplemental lighting, I saw an immediate improvement in egg production.

Within just a couple of days, my hens went from laying only a handful of eggs to over a dozen per day! 

As the hens received the right amount of light, their egg production continued to increase, and I was back to collecting plenty of eggs to share with family and friends.

While providing supplemental lighting is a personal choice, it’s a great option if you need eggs during the fall and winter months.

Ready to Learn More About Raising Chickens?

Check out some of my most popular posts below,

• Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners
• How to Clean Your Chicken Coop
• 11 Best Chicken Breeds for Cold Weather

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