COLOR BULB INSIDE COOP

[JOSEPHC]

I plan to place a small bulb inside my coop , 5'x3' to lengthen the daylight hours only (not to heat). What color, if any is recommended and wattage? Thanks!

 

[trooper]

I use a yellow bulb.It is about 15 - 20 watt.I like it because it isn't very bright coming on and is more like the sun setting at night when going off.It works for me.Some one else might see it different.

 

[henney penny]

I would use clear and have it come on in the morning hours and not at night.You will need 14 hours of light for egg laying.I would think that a 40 watt would do it.

 

[Lawrosa]

All the light suggestions are too bright.

I have a 2 watt cfl. You want more of a red light range 2700K. When you get higher then that say the 5000k range is not good for the chickens. Its more blue.

You want it just bright enough for them to see the food and water.

I have mine set to come on at 1 am here in NJ. Gives them about 16 hours of light. Right now the days are the shortest and in a couple weeks it will be going the other way again. The days will be getting longer.

I have the light on a timer and adjust every couple of weeks by 15 minutes of so. You want to keep the light constant.

Even this is too bright at 80 lums for my 4x4 coop. I have this one.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/3618/FC02-MB201.html

Probably a 7 watt night light is good at 35 lums. I wanted a CFL so it will last way longer and not have to worry about it burning out. Plus save on electric.

http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical...Id=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UNiMzaywWSo

http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical...Id=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UNiNSqywWSo


But instead of ordering online I see the home stores now carry these low watt bulbs.

This would be my next choice. LED at 74 lums.

http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical...Id=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UNiOPKywWSo


Yellow light like a poster said does not have all the colors. You want all the colors of the spectrum so use a white llight. Also have come on in the morning. Using the light at night will do nothing. You want to mimic sunrise.

I have speckled sussex and get eggs everyday from them.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I used a compact fluorescent, oh what are they? 18w that equate to 60w of lighting or something or other. We have a 4x4 coop, nesting boxes attached so full 4x4 and that light was fine. I do agree that natural lighting is just as important as any light waking them to eat. The pig tail CFL's come in a cool white or warm white. I went with warm, either fluorescent will provide the sunlight to aid in Vitamin D production.

I've heard some long hours suggested for maximum egg production. 14 hours is what commercial operations do. I always felt that if I lived on the equator I'd not even think of providing light so 12 hours is plenty. My timer for lighting allows two settings so it turns on a few hours before sunrise then off and a bit before sunset turns on to hour after making 12 hours total.

We are now on the up side of daylight here, almost 9 full hours of natural daylight. We tried no lighting this year and wow, what a difference in laying. Providing only 12 hours total light the girls never skipped a beat. Some pullets were laying nine days in a row before taking a day off right through winter. Though come the coldest week or two in January the lows hit -30F with highs of 15F and the girls slow down some. Right back at it after that serious dip in temperature, using the feed energy for warmth rather than making me breakfast and I don't blame them one bit.

 

[trooper]

I used a compact fluorescent, oh what are they? 18w that equate to 60w of lighting or something or other. We have a 4x4 coop, nesting boxes attached so full 4x4 and that light was fine. I do agree that natural lighting is just as important as any light waking them to eat. The pig tail CFL's come in a cool white or warm white. I went with warm, either fluorescent will provide the sunlight to aid in Vitamin D production.

I've heard some long hours suggested for maximum egg production. 14 hours is what commercial operations do. I always felt that if I lived on the equator I'd not even think of providing light so 12 hours is plenty. My timer for lighting allows two settings so it turns on a few hours before sunrise then off and a bit before sunset turns on to hour after making 12 hours total.

We are now on the up side of daylight here, almost 9 full hours of natural daylight. We tried no lighting this year and wow, what a difference in laying. Providing only 12 hours total light the girls never skipped a beat. Some pullets were laying nine days in a row before taking a day off right through winter. Though come the coldest week or two in January the lows hit -30F with highs of 15F and the girls slow down some. Right back at it after that serious dip in temperature, using the feed energy for warmth rather than making me breakfast and I don't blame them one bit.

I'm not sure about the new types of bulbs.Personal preference I don't like them.I will try a white regular bulb.I do like what you said about the morning and evening light.I like it because it allows them to adjust in the a/m and in the p/m.It isn't all added at one time.

 

[laughingdog52]

Thanks for all the great info. We had a little cold snap and I used a heat lamp , but they were awake all night. I should have known that, but that's why I read these forums. The temps are only in the 30's and I think I will change the bulb and use a timer