Adding light to coop in morning

[Crazyfarmlady25]

I'm wanting to add light in the morning so that my hens get plenty of light for laying eggs. I've been thinking maybe led Christmas lights that can be on a timer so they come on every morning but not sure if they would be a good idea. If they are not then I'm not sure what I should use. My coop is only maybe 42-48" tall at the big door (my big door is on the front of the coop and it slopes lower so I want something that could go round the inside of the roof or a single light I could hang from the roof by the door but would light up the whole coop.

 

[Artchickenlover21]

LED strip lights might work better, like the ones you see in a lot of gamers' rooms. You'll want to avoid anything that has a chance of catching fire like a red heat lamp of course. If they're gonna be inside the coop and have ventilation they shouldn't overheat. There are solar powered options for outdoors.

 

[nuthatched]

Get a plant grow light, closest thing to natural sunlight, not harsh leds.
Are you aware that hens that don't get a laying break are more prone so reproductive issues ?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They don't need bright light, a night light will do. I've heard that it only has to be bright enough for you to read a newspaper (chickens can't read, lol).

But of course you can go brighter if you choose.

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

LED strip lights might work better, like the ones you see in a lot of gamers' rooms. You'll want to avoid anything that has a chance of catching fire like a red heat lamp of course. If they're gonna be inside the coop and have ventilation they shouldn't overheat. There are solar powered options for outdoors.

I was definitely not planning on a heat lamp but had been looking at a short strand of indoor/outdoor led Christmas lights but the led light strand might be better.

 

[Lizzyduff]

Oh my goodness...I think I might have accidentally triggered my girls to start laying early. I had an accident and hurt myself pretty badly due to it being so dark so I installed a night light, a small LED strip, about 3 weeks ago so I wouldn't trip over things again while doing evening chores after the girls go up for the night. Well... it's the end of December and suddenly I'm swimming in eggs, instead of the 2 or 3 a day I usually get in the winter. Could the LED strip be triggering them to start laying early? If so I feel like a jerk...I thought a dim light would be OK. Did I screw up my girls' natural rhythms by installing this nightlight?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Oh my goodness...I think I might have accidentally triggered my girls to start laying early. I had an accident and hurt myself pretty badly due to it being so dark so I installed a night light, a small LED strip, about 3 weeks ago so I wouldn't trip over things again while doing evening chores after the girls go up for the night. Well... it's the end of December and suddenly I'm swimming in eggs, instead of the 2 or 3 a day I usually get in the winter. Could the LED strip be triggering them to start laying early? If so I feel like a jerk...I thought a dim light would be OK. Did I screw up my girls' natural rhythms by installing this nightlight?

Maybe? But on the other hand, two of my three layers started up again on their own, even before solstice, a week ago. It’s not unusual for pullets in their first winters to just keep laying.

How long of a laying break did they take?

At any rate, three weeks wasn’t that long. They’ll be fine.

 

[Lizzyduff]

Maybe? But on the other hand, two of my three layers started up again on their own, even before solstice, a week ago. It’s not unusual for pullets in their first winters to just keep laying.

How long of a laying break did they take?

At any rate, three weeks wasn’t that long. They’ll be fine.

They stopped for about 4 months I think. Hopefully that is a long enough break...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I put a light on in the coop in the evening after all my hens were done molting, also about three weeks ago. Production is starting to amp up here, too. Instead of the one or two eggs I was getting, I'm now getting six of seven! I don't believe it will hurt them.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I put a light on in the coop in the evening after all my hens were done molting, also about three weeks ago. Production is starting to amp up here, too. Instead of the one or two eggs I was getting, I'm now getting six of seven! I don't believe it will hurt them.

I do like the idea of giving them a break from laying, to let their reproductive systems recover, but after a month or two, maybe a tiny bit of light?

I have zero data to support this; just some arm-waving.