Chicken Party At Night!

[kbroom]

I don't have any links handy, but I believe that people have tried 24 hour light to see if that improves laying and found that it had a negative effect on the chicken's health over time.

That said, many urban/suburban chickens live in areas that are never truly dark because of streetlights, security lights, etc.

Best to monitor their behavior and health and be prepared to adjust as appropriate.

Thanks. I'm going to try just leaving the string lights, turn out the bigger white lights, and off goes the music. After all, I do have motion activated lights just outside the pen.

 

[3KillerBs]

Doesn't anyone here play music for their chickens???

No, I haven't tried that.

It probably won't hurt if it doesn't annoy the neighbors (I have a GREAT hatred of hearing someone else's music when I'm in my own yard and always wear earbuds or headphones so that my music doesn't bother anyone else). I don't know if anyone ever studied music with chickens but I have heard that cows appreciate it.

(The birds never seem to mind me singing, at least).

 

[kbroom]

Unfortunately it's not such a good idea. If my understanding is correct, and you're doing it to keep the coyotes away, they will eventually learn that music and lights won't get in their way of getting to the birds. Best to just have a secure coop and run and just let the birds sleep in the dark

OK. Thanks. Looks like it unanimous! String lights, big lights and music off. I have motion activated lights just outside the pen, so that should suffice.

 

[aart]

OK. Then the chickens would prefer the dark? The reason I did this in the beginning is because, when I left the light on, I noticed that they seemed to gravitate to the light (for security?) as opposed to shying away from it, as an annoyance, seemingly.

I have motion activated lights just outside the pen, so that should suffice.

No kind of lights will deter predators in the long run.
A strong and secure coop is the way to go.

 

[3KillerBs]

No kind of lights will deter predators in the long run.
A strong and secure coop is the way to go.

This.

OP could consider electric fence too.

 

[kbroom]

No, I haven't tried that.

It probably won't hurt if it doesn't annoy the neighbors (I have a GREAT hatred of hearing someone else's music when I'm in my own yard and always wear earbuds or headphones so that my music doesn't bother anyone else). I don't know if anyone ever studied music with chickens but I have heard that cows appreciate it.

(The birds never seem to mind me singing, at least).

Thanks. You seem to be much more sympathetic, compared to the others about the music. The music is not that loud, but I don't like hearing other people's music either, Tennessee Bird Walk (song in the 60s) is out of vogue. And I sing to my birds all the time. I even make up songs for them, but that's in the daytime. So, I'll leave the string lights, turn out the big, white lights and the music. I DO have motion activated lights just outside the pen. So...will see what happens....

 

[kbroom]

It's cute but chickens really should have darkness at night to sleep properly.

So I've gathered. I'm going to try it, and see how they react. Thanks.

 

[kbroom]

This.

OP could consider electric fence too.

Yep. Secure coop seems to be the key. Electric fence, for sure, I WILL BE THE ONE TO FIND IT, IN THE DARK!!! LOL!

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

OK. There seems to be a consensus among the chicken moms. I'll leave the string lights. It looks in the picture like the light is INSIDE the coops, which it is not. But still, it may be too much as well. I'm going to try just leaving the string lights then, and I also have motion activated lights outside the pen as well. So, that should alarm any would be predators. Perhaps I'll bring back the soft music during the egg laying stage? Don't know. I thought it might help, but maybe not. Doesn't anyone here play music for their chickens???

My string lights and motion activated lights don’t deter predators though. The string lights are purely for aesthetic purposes and so I can see when I’m out there since I like to be out in that area on warm nights. The motion lights are so I can see as well (the garden is back there too).
The lights definitely don’t keep away predators as you can see in this photo, here’s a coyote just walking along the outside of my run, unfazed at the motion light that flashed on! They just walk past it since they know they can’t get to my chickens because the coop is within a hardware cloth run, and the coop itself is shut tight for the night.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks. You seem to be much more sympathetic, compared to the others about the music. The music is not that loud, but I don't like hearing other people's music either, Tennessee Bird Walk (song in the 60s) is out of vogue. And I sing to my birds all the time. I even make up songs for them, but that's in the daytime. So, I'll leave the string lights, turn out the big, white lights and the music. I DO have motion activated lights just outside the pen. So...will see what happens....

I'm pretty sure that sounds of different kinds are not too upsetting for chickens. My first flock was when I lived in town on a corner lot with lots of traffic.

On my country property the chickens have been unfazed by military helicopters overhead, the lawnmower, parties we've held, the crew that set the house in place, DH's power tools, and even a commercial-grade wood chipper that the tree service had operating about 5 feet from their fence when we had tree work done.

If they don't mind me singing Sabaton and Nightwish at the top of my voice while mowing or weed whacking around their fence I doubt they'd be disturbed by your soft, inspirational music.

Yep. Secure coop seems to be the key. Electric fence, for sure, I WILL BE THE ONE TO FIND IT, IN THE DARK!!! LOL!

I use those cheap solar lights that you stick in the ground to mark off the fence corners and other trip hazards. They're dim and aimed at the ground.

I also have a good headlamp for use in the coop after dark when doing off-the roost checks, etc.