Battery Powered Interior Coop Lighting for Winter?

[FountainCityCottage]

I would like to add some interior, nighttime lighting to my coop for the winter months to help with egg production. My coop is not wired for electricity, and the thought of running an extension cord out seems like a fire hazard to me. I’d like to figure out an appropriate battery-powered interior lighting solution for my coop, and I’m wondering whether any of you have any recommendations - specific products would be good. I already have battery powered motion sensing lights mounted on the exterior of my coop, and they work great. It seems like there could be a similar product for the interior but without such a powerful beam of light. Any thoughts?

 

[Mosey2003]

You have to keep in mind that you can't use just any light either, and have it be effective. It has to be bright enough in the coop that you could read a newspaper easily, from where the chickens hang out. I use a 60w LED bulb in my small coop, and a flood light in the barn.

 

[aart]

Key here is a timer...there are 12v components that could be used to build a system.
Seriously doubt you'll find anything off the shelf.
@jthornton might know how... or who would know.

Supplemental lighting is best done in the mornings.
Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.

 

[jthornton]

If you read this great thread about building an auto door the same timer could be used to turn lights on/off. Then just search for 12v auto interior led lights.

JT

 

[jthornton]

I've come to the conclusion after many trials that unless you have hens that are bred for laying eggs every day extra light will do nothing.

JT

 

[Cryss]

I've come to the conclusion after many trials that unless you have hens that are bred for laying eggs every day extra light will do nothing.

JT

I’ve never tried it. My thought is that egg production goes down in the season of short days which coincides with molting season. The birds need the nutrients, usually used for egg production, to stay strong during feather loss as weather cools and to regrow feathers. Yes we can increase nutrients in their feed to help offset this. My mind worries about how uncomfortable it must be to be chilly, have spikey pinfeathers that can be painful, and still have to lay eggs every day. I let nature dictate their cycles. No lights. No electricity except in winter to prevent frozen water. But to each his own.

 

[Alaskan]

My thought is if you are far enough north that you need light for the hens... is it so cold that the batteries will fail?

 

[WIchickMama]

I’ve never tried it. My thought is that egg production goes down in the season of short days which coincides with molting season. The birds need the nutrients, usually used for egg production, to stay strong during feather loss as weather cools and to regrow feathers. Yes we can increase nutrients in their feed to help offset this. My mind worries about how uncomfortable it must be to be chilly, have spikey pinfeathers that can be painful, and still have to lay eggs every day. I let nature dictate their cycles. No lights. No electricity except in winter to prevent frozen water. But to each his own.

Same!!! I use the winter to rest and recoup before spring planting why not let the chickens do the same. We don't have them to give us eggs to survive though, so if someone does they will likely feel different.

 

[Cryss]

There are lots of lantern types with adjustable dimmer switches. I'd search google. I have a few different types I keep for loss of power. One type doesn't have the dimmer so keep that in mind. There are closet types that you can attach to the wall but usually done have dimmers.
Home depot has this one with dimmer. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Power-By-Go-Green-30-LED-Indoor-Outdoor-Lantern-GG-113-30L/204605251

Home depot has a lot of the closet types. https://www.homedepot.com/s/battery%20powered%20closet%20light?searchtype=text&NCNI-5

 

[Japuvian]

I ended up using full spectrum LED Grow lights: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PFHMNC9/?tag=backy-20

They have a timer and will turn themselves on and off. The hard part is the battery. Since the lights I got have USB plugs I got some larger cellphone power banks and switch them out as needed (every other day). I was toying with the idea of a large battery generator but $300 seems a bit much for lighting chickens. I have since managed to cut out a bunch of windows in my coop and I'm a lot less concerned about lighting.