[Rubellite]

Goodness me. I was just going to say that for a few hens it would probably cost more in leccy than you'd earn on egg sales, but if you've got 250......can't do the maths  
My POL bought in October laid from December through 'til the summer, the ex-batts who came in May, lay daily although they have been all moulting so I have had a drop in production, but now numbers are up again. Everyone said mine would never lay as I don't feed them layers pellets (feed them grain and seeds and scraps) but they did  

[Swing Swang]

Leighton, the reference that I had in mind was by Dr Peter Lewis:

Poultry Lighting the Theory and Practice
Author(s): Dr. Peter Lewis & Prof. Trevor Morris
http://www.thechickensite.co.uk/detail/192/poultry-lighting-the-theory-and-practice/

He was awarded his PhD by Bristol University in 1987 for his studies of the laying hen’s response to interrupted lighting programmes. In addition to being a Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Guelph, where has is conducted lighting research. His work at Pietermaritzburg is primarily concerned with investigating photosensitivity in broiler breeders.

Regards,

SS

[too many girls]

sorry Leighton but i'm demanding pics, 250 ex batts i just have to see

[Roughlee Handled]

me to.

[Flowerpower136]

Leighton..

250 ex batts??        Go to the top of my hero list

[IMOmimey]

Well,me  being Mrs average,often undecided, (and always confused), I am planning on a halfway solution.  I hate the dark evenings especially, dark when i leave for work, and dark when i get home, so only see the girls at weekends!!  I am hoping to get OH to set me a light, with a dimmer, on a timer so I can set it to come on about 4ish, and i can see them, do the feed and water bowls etc in the evening, then i can put them all to bed and turn the light off, probably around 7-7.30 ish. But  as this might extend their laying time, i will only do it  up til Christmas at the latest, so they still get a rest. I worry that if its just dark, i wont notice if any are unwell, so its not for egg laying reasons.