Artificial lights shining in coop

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hello, just venting and hoping to get an idea from everyone. My chicken coop has windows on all 4 sides. My neighbors outdoor light stays on 24-7 and it shines into the coop all night! I wonder what I can do! When i check cameras at night no matter the time, they are awake in there. Was thinking i need a curtain or shade but it seems so conterproductive for the air circulation. Any ideas?? Its annoying. Definitely didnt consider that when choosing location of coop!

 

[Kiki]

Can you take a few pictures of your coop at night?

 

[Boise-girls]

Hello, just venting and hoping to get an idea from everyone. My chicken coop has windows on all 4 sides. My neighbors outdoor light stays on 24-7 and it shines into the coop all night! I wonder what I can do! When i check cameras at night no matter the time, they are awake in there. Was thinking i need a curtain or shade but it seems so conterproductive for the air circulation. Any ideas?? Its annoying. Definitely didnt consider that when choosing location of coop!

If the lights are higher than the coop, you might try a tall patio umbrella as a temporary fix. If that helps, extending the coop roofline might work for the longer term.

 

[McChooky]

My chickens love our street light and won't go in the coop if its dark. They think it should have a light like outside. No matter what I did nothing worked short of carrying them in so I caved and gave them a light .First it was a 60 watt then I reduced it to a 40 but yesterday I reduced it to a 15 watt.Later last night I peeked in to see how they were doing and found them all huddled underneath the dim light on the coop floor. I fully intend to wean mine off the light and the next one will be a night light. In a perfect world chickens sleep in the dark but some prefer light .If you don't mind the extra work you could add a shade cloth over the window .Some of these shade cloths cast more shade than others so be sure to get one that gives the most.

 

[BDutch]

If you add a kind of panel about 10” from the wired window there is stil a good airflow. Of course the panel should be oversized, solid and waterproof (waterproof plywood) . If the light comes from above the panel should be a attached higher than the window.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have no advice, just sympathy.

I HATE the fact that so many people think it's necessary to light up the world -- including their neighbors' property -- all night.

 

[DobieLover]

When i check cameras at night no matter the time, they are awake in there

I do not have lights shining on my coop at night and no matter the time I check my coop cameras, many are awake. Chickens do not sleep all night. They rest. If the chickens grew up there, they've likely acclimated to the light pollution.

My neighbors outdoor light stays on 24-7 and it shines into the coop all night! I wonder what I can do

Shoot out the lights??

My neighbor does this too. I HATE it. It's like living next to an airport. The chicken coop is the furthest away from them with our house and garage to block the light.

My bedroom is right next to them. The only time I've ever sleep in a truly dark room since moving here was when we have power outages.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I do not have lights shining on my coop at night and no matter the time I check my coop cameras, many are awake. Chickens do not sleep all night. They rest. If the chickens grew up there, they've likely acclimated to the light pollution.

Shoot out the lights??

My neighbor does this too. I HATE it. It's like living next to an airport. The chicken coop is the furthest away from them with our house and garage to block the light.

My bedroom is right next to them. The only time I've ever sleep in a truly dark room since moving here was when we have power outages.

Hey……maybe little chicken eye masks?! I wear them when hubby has TV on in bedroom. Tee hee, the visual of 6 chickens with eye masks makes me giggle. I may hang a curtain! Is that far fetched? I think the light is supposed to be the motion sensor type but its been on for many many days in a row. Thankfully my cousins house is not too close next door its just ironic that his light is like even with their windows. I’ll post a pic after I take one tonight. I think i can talk to my cousin and see if he can put it back to sensor mode. I just feel bad for chickens not having complete dark when they go to bed.

 

[Ryguy3684]

It might not be bothering them. Chickens sleep in a weird way. Their left eye is controlled by the right side of the brain and the right eye is controlled by the left side. The sides of their brain sleep in shifts. One side of the brain/one eye, will go to sleep, while the other side/eye is alert. That's probably why they appear awake on camera when you only see one eye. It's believed birds evolved this way to help avoid predator attacks at night.

 

[Outta Here]

It's illegal in many places, including Connecticut, for neighbors to "trespass" with nuisance lights at night. Even out here in the boondocks of the Arizona desert where people are ½ mile apart, it's illegal to leave an outfacing light on all night (I wouldn't want to with mine, either!). They have to be replaced with "good neighbor" lights that face downward and light only their patio, etc., not the neighbor's.
Here's a summary of Connecticut's Light Pollution Definition:
"Light pollution is generally unwanted or harmful outdoor light and can take several forms, including glare and light trespass. Glare is direct light that reduces vision or causes discomfort and light trespass is light that shines beyond where it is intended to shine. The infographic below illustrates how, and in what forms, light pollution occurs."


Anything that doesn't mimic the natural sunrise and sunset upsets the circadian rhythm in chickens, affecting their brain temperatures, health, longevity and egg laying.

Maybe, to keep good neighbor relations, you could ask the neighbors to change to downward lights and maybe (if you really like them and they are resistant) even offer to carry some of the cost?