Solar Light To Keep Egg Production Going in The Winter

kperki

Songster
6 Years
Jun 19, 2014
173
44
131
Central Coast, California
Hi
We do not have electricity in our coops and I do not want to chance anything by running an extension chord to it.
I was hoping to be able to do solar with a timer somehow where I put the light in the coop and the panel on the roof and then have a way of setting the timer for the light to come on for the correct amount of time.

I have looked on Amazon etc. and I just keep seeing motion lights. Has anyone done this? If so can you send me the links to what I need to get. I want to get started on this soon as it is getting dark so early here. I am in Central Cali so I do not have to worry about snow.

Thanks
 
I found this light that is not motion activated. You can just turn it on when your chickens go into coop for the evening. . After the battery drains ( not sure how long) then your chickens will sleep. This essentially extends the length of daylight for them. The other motion activated lights may also work for you because your chickens will be somewhat moving inside your coop. It is a matter of trial and error.
here is the link.
http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-shed-light-62549.html



WISHING YOU BEST
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Thanks Cavemanrich.
Unfortunately that one has to be unplugged every night to get it to work. I really am looking for something with a timer or do a timer add on so as the time daylight changes its an easy change. I am also looking for simple as I will forget to unplug something every night to activate it. I would think that other chicken owners have gone through this already and have something set up that they can share...I hope!
 
I provide my girls light on a timer indeed. 12 hours. during winter. Only difference is I have electricity inside my garage. I am not aware of a timer that is not operated by house current. Of course there are all kind of options with large storage batteries and electronic inverters.. This can GET HEAVY DUTY COMPLICATED. I am not sure you want to go to such extents.. Lets see if someone else has a simple solution..
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I've turned on a light in my pen just before roost time. My pullets still go to roost in their coop when its dark outside the pen. Do I need a light in the coop also in order to extend their hours of light?
 
Harbor freight sells a solar kit that includes panels and small led lights. All you need is a small battery and a 12v timer and you are good to go. Harbor freight sells a battery pretty cheap, and a 12v timer can be found on ebay for less then $10. Total cost for everything would be $150. I was going to go this route, but ran electric instead. My coop is only 75 ft from my house so I rented a ditch trencher frome home depot and ran everything. Cost me $200 total including rental. For me it was worth it so I had no battery to wear out and I have power for a waterer heater.
 
Cheap solar yard lights. The small ones at dollar tree can be shoved in a proper size hole in a wall. On at dusk, off when battery drains. At a dollar a piece, you can install ten for $10 and they carry them year round,replace them as they fail.
 
Artificial lighting needs to be added in the morning. Chickens need to be able to roost with natural waning of light.

If your light is on a timer and suddenly turns off, leaving your chickens in sudden darkness, how are they going to find their roost?
 
I could also suggest strings of solar Christmas lights. The advantage to the solar walkway and Christmas lights is they dim gradually add the battery voltage drops. They rarely just shut off, more likely not to come on, by which time the birds are already in the coop. If there are several sets or lights, even better. They are unlikely to all turn off at once.

I've seen very few solar lights on timers. I think the low voltage timer circuit probably adds too much cost or complexity.
 

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