I go with nature. I have the lights on when he gets light outside and off right before dark. Right now I'm doing 8 AM to 8 PM. In Dec. I'll be doing like 8 to 5:30. As it starts getting dark earlier I will start adjusting the timers about 30 minutes at a time every 3 to 4 weeks.
Unfortunately for my little guy, he has to wake up close to when I do or he would get fed too late in the evening and not have time to digest it. I wake up at 5:30am and his lights come on at 6:00am and my lights are on until 8:00pm. It is 14 hours, but that unfortunately is what needs to happen. About 15 minutes before the lights go out, he moves himself into position and is ready for them to turn off. Almost like he is tucking himself in.