Understand that daylight hours trigger and sustain egg production

Hens need approximately 14–16 hours of light per day to lay consistently. Light stimulates the pineal gland and pituitary gland to release hormones that trigger ovulation. Pullets that reach maturity during fall or winter when daylight drops below 12 hours may delay their first egg until spring, even if they are physically ready to lay.

Why It Works

Egg production is photoperiod-dependent. As days shorten in autumn, decreasing light signals the hen's body to slow or stop ovulation — a natural conservation mechanism. Hens hatched in spring benefit from increasing daylight during their maturation and typically start laying on schedule. Fall-hatched pullets often wait until January or February when days begin lengthening again.

Tips

• Some keepers add supplemental lighting (a single 40-watt bulb on a timer) to maintain 14–16 hours of total light in winter
• If using supplemental light, add it in the early morning rather than evening so hens can naturally roost at dusk
• The long-term health impact of supplemental lighting is debated — hens have a finite number of eggs, and forcing year-round production may shorten their productive lifespan
• Natural seasonal breaks allow hens to molt, rest, and rebuild nutrient reserves