BackYardChickens Forum

Yes, a single light bulb will be sufficient to light your coop.  It is best to have the light to come on early in the morning and go off after sunrise.  They will need at least 14 hours of light.  I have mine set on a timer to come on at 3:30 am and turns off at 7:00 am.

Yes, I have read here that they just need enough to read a newspaper by. Though why a chicken would read a newspaper is beyond me, and I don't think mine are even able to read. But apparently some do......

I have unfinished walls and have an 8x16 coop.  I used two dual 40 W fluorescent shop light fixtures fastened to rafters at 7 1/2 ft above floor.  They are only on briefly at dusk and in AM when I let them out.  Only other times is when I am working in coop.  I think they were about $7 each not counting house wire and switch on wall. 

I ran a 140 ft water line, 3/4", along with a 12 ga (20 amp) line and also an 8-wire tel line to coop before building it.  Never used the latter one yet, but maybe the chooks would like some Bach or Mozart piped in some day ?

chookchick wrote:

Yes, I have read here that they just need enough to read a newspaper by. Though why a chicken would read a newspaper is beyond me, and I don't think mine are even able to read. But apparently some do......

A single fixture is just fine for that size coop. I aolso agree with 14 hrs./day of light. However, if you want to see more of your birds this winter, as well as cut down on 4am egg-calling, you can have the light stay on in the evening, too.

I just use a multi plug adaptor with a second timer. The second timer has a nightlight plugged into it, and is set to go off a half hour after the main light. this provides an artificial dusk that lets the birds know it's time to get up to their roosts. Chickens do have a good built-in clock, though. My birds are usually ready for bed even before the nightlight comes on.