Best type lighting for coop? Help please

[New adventure]

Man, you guys are great! Freebird, I will take your advice on the 2 switches; never would have thought of that. I was planning on 1 switch and 2 outlets on 20 amp breaker right by the human door but it will be easy to add one more switch and I might put another breaker in too.

I'm sure glad I found this site before I built my coop; I have added so many cool features, linoleum floor, predator proofing and plenty of ventilation. I'll get pictures posted soon I hope.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Real fluorescents (i.e not the little compact fit-in-a-lightbulb-socket ones) can be bought with cold weather ballasts that will start fairly friskily down to about -15 F (slower startup below that, but the ones in my barn have never 'not' come on).

I think the O.P. would be a lot better with a conventional 60-100w bulb, though. Plenty big to light that size coop, and I have known a couple house and barn fires started by malfunctioning fluorescent ballasts whereas I have known none started by a (non broken) lightbulb.

Pat