I just moved my four older girls into the coop today - yay!!
My husband put the final touches on the coop, we spread around the bedding, installed food and water and let the girls loose! We have a light fixture for a smallish bulb (like a small reflector for a heat lamp) hanging over the roosting area, but I haven't got a bulb in it yet. I'm thinking about a low-watt dim bulb for the nighttimes, but I'm wondering: should I put a bulb in there for heat at first? The girls are 7 weeks, and the nighttime temps are forecast to be around 49 - 50 degrees (daytime in the 70s). Should I run out and get a bulb? 100 watt? Red?
Later on, should I have a dim bulb in there all the time at night, like a nightlight? I hear that they're more able to defend themselves if a predator somehow breaks in (God forbid) if there's even a little light, but if it's pitch dark they're kind of in a stupor.
Just because I'm proud of the work my husband did, here's a pic of the coop from outside:
Later on, should I have a dim bulb in there all the time at night, like a nightlight? I hear that they're more able to defend themselves if a predator somehow breaks in (God forbid) if there's even a little light, but if it's pitch dark they're kind of in a stupor.
Just because I'm proud of the work my husband did, here's a pic of the coop from outside: