A coop with no windows. Does this matter?

[Dinosuarus]

Hello All. Thank you for this great website and forum. I have been lurking and learning for months. Today I decided to join because, like so many, I need guidance and expertise. I got my first 5 chickens a few days ago. They are free-range birds. The coop is well ventilated, but lets in almost no light (no windows) unless the top is open. I keep it open all day and stay alert for predators. At night, very little light shines through the ventilation holes from my porch when it's closed. Is this OK or should the inside of the coop be pitch black darkness at night? Secondly, when I run errands during the day, is it OK to leave the chickens in their dark coop for a couple of hours?

 

[aart]

Thank you for all of your responses. However, this thread about light has largely turned into a thread about ventilation. My initial post clearly states, "The coop is well ventilated ..." I already definitively and completely understand the importance of proper ventilation. My coop does not have a ventilation problem, nor are my questions about ventilation. My questions are about light. Sooooo, an extra special thanks to the folks who addressed my actual questions.

It's common here at BYC for threads to divert/drift to connected topics....
......sometimes they totally turn into an all out gabbing chat fest that has nothing to do with the thread title or even chickens for that matter.

Ventilation and natural lighting are usually interconnected and most newbies do not have enough ventilation, even when they think they do.

We're just trying to help, that's why you were asked about your ventilation and for pictures of your coop to help you incorporate light and possibly more ventilation.

But....Yes, chickens need natural light in the coop.

 

[donrae]

If I'm correct, you only have a coop, but no run?

Building a run would solve the dark during the day problem. Free ranging is great, but I believe every chicken keeper should have a way to confine their flock safely for a few days if needed. You may never need it, but there are plenty of scenarios that could keep you from being able to supervise your birds during the day...

Flu season is coming. You may get ill.
You may have a predator issue and need to confine them until you can eliminate the predator.
You may want to go on vacation.
You may have a family member with an emergency that calls you out of town.

And on and on and on.

confining them to a dark coop a few hours a few times a week may not be the best thing, but probably won't mess them up too much. But, life doesn't always go as planned!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Pitch dark at night is fine. Light during the day, especially morning from East windows is a good thing. How much ventilation in square footage and how are they getting ventilation if there's no light during the day?
Any time one says they have no windows, I always worry about ventilation.
Being dark a couple hours a day isn't a problem either.

By the way, welcome.

 

[Dinosuarus]

... how are they getting ventilation if there's no light during the day?
Any time one says they have no windows, I always worry about ventilation.
Being dark a couple hours a day isn't a problem either.

By the way, welcome.

They are getting ventilation through vents. The vents are near the top. When a coop is vented properly there shouldn't be very much light shining through vents. The vents should ideally be facing down. A window, too, would be great, but this coop does not have one. The entire top can be opened and I keep it that way all day, while staying alert for predators. Of course an open top lets in tons of light. I close and lock it at night.

Thanks for question, the OK on "being dark a couple hours a day" answer, and for the welcome.

 

[tcstoehr]

I wouldn't worry about incidental light coming in at night. Sounds to me like it's plenty dark at night inside that coop.
I wonder about putting them in a dark coop in the middle of the day. I mean, what happens to birds during a total eclipse? They think it's night time and they roost down for the night, only to be awakened within an hour. If you put your birds into a dark coop, I'm guessing they'll act like it's nightfall and go do sleep. I would think that doing this repeatedly would mess with their internal seasonal clocks. But I am only speculating.

 

[vehve]

A picture of the coop might bring up some improvement ideas, just a thought

*Edit* You'll need to rack up a few more posts before you can post pictures though.

 

[ECBW]

You would not be the first nor only one to keep birds in dark coop, I have seen it done by other keepers. But is it a good idea?

Well, you might have read that the egg production is related to amount of light that they receive daily. Egg factories even use 24/7 lighting to over stimulate egg production. Many of us actually install lights in winter months for the same reason.

So consider installing some windows. It would be beneficial in many ways.

 

[Dinosuarus]

If you put your birds into a dark coop, I'm guessing they'll act like it's nightfall and go do sleep. I would think that doing this repeatedly would mess with their internal seasonal clocks. But I am only speculating.

Yes, I think you are right about doing it repeatedly and messing with their internal clock. I put them in for an hour and when I opened the coop they seemed like they just woke up. It took them a while to get into the swing of things even though I had treats.

 

[Dinosuarus]

So consider installing some windows. It would be beneficial in many ways.

I know you are absolutely correct. I'm looking forward to more land, a bigger and better coop, and more chickens in the near future.