The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-11-03
LIGHT EFFECT
ON EGG YIELD
Euualizing Hours of Light and
Darkness Lengthens Feed
ing Period.
USE METHOD CAUTIOUSLY
Danger of Hens Mouiting II Egg
Production is Crowded Too
Much.

Artificial lights properly operated
will materially increase the winter
egg production of pullets. The use
of lights may also slightly increase
the yearly egg production of individual
hens. though not to any marked ex-
tent
Lighting AS a Feeding Measure.
1t should be well understood that
lily as means of getting the hens to
eed longer than they otherwise would
during the short days of fall and win.
ter. An extra feeding of scratch
grain should be provided so that the
flock is induced to eat not only enough
Tor maintenance but an amount COM
parable to what is eaten in the more
active laying seasons.
Lights are used soon after Septem-
Der / in New Jersey, but in most To-
calities they are started November l
and continued to April 1. Conditions
vary in different states. What may
be good practice in New Jersey may
not work in Kansas In the latter
state electricity is considered the only
practicable kind of light, while in
other states kerosene lamps and gaso-
line mantles are sometimes used.
Electricity is the most practical meth.
cd to use wherever it is available.
How to Use Artificial Light.
The total daylight, real and artifi-
cial, should be about Ia hours. There
are three ways of increasing the ap-
parent length of the day--by turning
or by keeping them going several
hours at night, or by using them both
morning and night. While all three
methods have given good results, the
first is usually found most convenient,
because the lights merge into daylight
and no ill effects result if they are not
turned off promptly.
In using the second method some
dimming device is needed with cleo
trio lights to lower the illumination
gradually. The hens do not get to
their roosts if the light is suddenly
extinguished. Gasoline and kerosene
lamps have to be turned down.
Artificial lighting can be abused,
with disastrous effects on the flock.
If they are run for too long day. the
hens may produce well for short
time and then begin to monfr. II rnr
laying passes 60 per cent, or, in the
opinion of some poultry authorities.
so per cent, there is danger Of moult-
ing and consequent cessation of laying.
In the spring the lights should never
be stopped abruptly. The length of
time they are run should be shortened
about 10 minutes day until ii can be
entirely abandoned.
Other Points in Connection With
Lights.
Fresh water should be given the
flock the first thing in the morning
when the lights are turned on. Birds
of different ages should not be housed
together or lighted in the same way.
They should be properly graded and
fiocked according to age. Lighting
makes it possible to carry February
Matched pullets through the first fall
and winter producing period with ess
moulting Yearlings and 2-year-old
hens are better if started with artif'-
cial lights in January, and the method
is not as profitable as with pullets. 1t
is considered a questionable practice
TO turn lights on culled hens to stimu-
late egg production. In New Jersay
where the largest amount of work has
been done with artificial lighting it is
thought better to sell the culls and
buy good birds.
Artificial lights should be suspend
ed from the ceiling so that the entire
floor space is lighted. If the roosting
closet partition casts a shadow on the
roosts, the chickens will go to sleep in
the shadow.