Solar powered LED lights for chicken coop?

[jtbrown]

I will be watching, had estimate for 1500 bucks to run electric to the coop, will figure out something else before that!

 

[CarolynF]

I'd like to do this too and my coop is also 3 x 4. I was looking at LEDs at Lowes and found some that are supposed to provide light in the daylight range. But at $23 each they'd better be awfully good. I don't know about the solar part of it unfortunately. I'd really like to learn.

 

[sonew123]

well I can't offer much except DH bought one for our new coop this weekend. It does NOT work well at all...Very very dim..I guess it would be ok ok you need to barely see a lit path in your coop at night but thats it....I dont think it was one of the really expensive ones though? less than 100$ more than 50$?

 

[Chocobo]

Quote:
I was going to ask this EXACT same question.
I have read that the color of light is important as well. Meaning you need less or more light depending on the wavelength to keep them laying but I've never found specifics.
I do know that the average LED covers a very narrow band of the EM spectrum unlike incandescent lights but you can get LEDs in many different colors.
There are "white light" LEDs that cover a wider range of the spectrum by using a phosphor coating to convert blue or ultraviolet light into white light similar to how fluorescent bulbs work but I do not know the efficiency of these types or if a solar cell is powerful enough to utilize them. ( http://www.gizmology.net/LEDs.htm ).
I am curious if it would be better to find the optimum wavelength and use LEDs that come close to matching it or if it would be better to use "white light" LEDs if solar cells are powerful enough to run them.

 

[MakNugget]

I'm still trying to find the perfect light.

I bought this for the first coop. Perfect set up, with a solar panel, hi low settings, pull to turn on. But the darned thing is far too dim for human use. It's probably just fine if you're trying to extend laying though. With that said, I don't use it anymore, but the chickens do! They managed to pull the string into the coop and I find it turned on sometimes.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013HPNRY/ref=wms_ohs_product_T2

Instead I have a twin fluorescent work light/wand thing via extension cord on a timer. Not my ideal set up but it helps the human see.

 

[eggboy]

I asked a similar question on here and decided it is probably not worth it. I am still however considering wind turbines.

 

[CarolynF]

I read somewhere that the amount of light needed for the chickens is what a person would need to read a newspaper. I'm guessing that doesn't mean an extended reading period, but rather just enough to see it, so maybe the equiv. of a 25W bulb? Has anyone else seen anything more informative? I also read here on BYC a couple people saying they use the LED rope lights we see at Christmas. For me it's the solar part that will be the toughest. We're still looking into it -- slowly.

 

[youngfish]

I was looking at LEDs at Lowes and found some that are supposed to provide light in the daylight range.

 

[hexabob]

I have my kids old powerwheels battery in my coop (4x4x4) with 3 individual white led's inside and 3 flashing reds outside. Paid maybe $5 for the lights on ebay, and have a cheap solar panel hooked up to it. I don't know if it's bright enough to promote laying, mine are still little, but it does provide some break from the darkness. The flashing red led's on the outside can be seen from pretty far and still scare me half the time.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have the three light spotlight set with separate solar panel from Lowes. The lights have 3 LED bulbs per light & it was $30. Bought it for a 4 by 6 coop when I got bantams. I know in the winter they would go in & eat & move around for awhile using that light. I'm not sure if they laid more eggs or not, as it was my first time with bantams. I just got new batteries for it after 4 years & replaced the old NiCad with more powerful NiMh. My battery contacts have rusted some from moisture & it wasn't always going on or charging fully. Just bought a $10 Duracell charger & charged up the batteries & it spooked the guineas last night. It was brighter than it has been in a year and still has charge this morning. These lights are dusk to dawn. I think they still sell them & they might work if your coop isn't too big or if you get lots of them.