We’re past the equinox, so every covey north of the equator is now getting less than 12 hours of daylight, and losing a couple more minutes every day.
That matters because light is the lever on winter laying. Coturnix hens lay steadily on about 14 to 16 hours of light a day. Somewhere under 12, most of them slow way down or quit until spring, no matter how good the feed is.
So every fall there’s a choice to make.
Add light. A cheap timer and a small warm-white LED is all it takes. It doesn’t need to be bright. If you could read by it, it’s enough. Most keepers warn against leaving lights on around the clock, since the birds need real dark to rest.
Let them rest. Some keepers skip the lights on purpose, let the hens take the winter off, and pick back up when the days stretch out.
Which way are you going this year, and why?
If you’re adding light:
- How many total hours are you aiming for?
- Are you adding it in the morning, the evening, or splitting it?
- What bulb and timer are you using, and how far from the birds?
- Did you jump straight to the full schedule or ramp up to it?
If you’re resting them, how long did it take them to come back into lay last spring?
Post your schedule. Somebody setting up for their first winter is going to copy it.