Coop Lighting Question

[Lydia]

I searched but wasn't able to find the answer to this question, so forgive me if I'm making a repeat request for information.

I'm about to put my approximately 6 week old pullets in the coop soon -it's almost finished. Please clarify for me what kind of lighting the chickens will need in the coop for this time of year. It's been a little cool in Seattle this spring and I want to make sure that the girls will stay warm. Do they need a heat lamp right now? Do they need lighting at all? Is it possible they will need a heat lamp in the late fall and winter or will the 60w bulb they'll need for regular daylight be enough?

 

[morelcabin]

They will be fine in the coop without heat, and a regular light bulb will keep them laying through the winter. Some people use heat lamps during winter for extra heat, but from what I have seen you will lose more birds through the winter if you try and give them heat than you will if you just leave them be in a draft free but well ventelated pen.
I have a friend who never used heat during winter, then someone convinced her that she should. For three years she lost more birds to colds than ever before. She finally stopped using heat and her birds are doing alot better

 

[al6517]

I think it is a plus to run electricity in the coop, yes better egg production in the winter, and safety is a big deal for me, having the option to turn on a light in the middle of the night in case of emergency. heating and water defrosters come in mighty handy, I like to keep my real young chicks in cages in the main coop and put a heat lamp on them so they don't catch a chill from the spring rains and the like. it's just plain handy.

 

[LynneP]

For what it's worth we're going to run Christmas rope lights around the top edge inside the coop soon. We also have a window with natural light. Our chicks are 6 weeks old, we'll eventually have extra light come on at 4 am with a timer.

We have a brooder lamp in there but needed it only one night. Our birds had to go to the coop at two weeks after outgrowing our brooder. Everyone is fine, flying, thrilled to be there.

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

Has anyone tried those solar shed lights from Harbor Freight yet?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95573

$24.99 for about a 30 watt light. I am not sure how long it would last before it goes out, but maybe some larger battries?

 

[ozark hen]

Follow morelcabin's advice for healthy chickens. We use a 60 wt. bulb right over the waterer when the temp drops to freezing and have three 60wt. bulbs in the two coop rooms for MY CONVENIENCE ONLY. I use a deep litter method on the floor, all windows are covered in plastic type sheeting and there is ventilation. I never lost one chicken to the cold last winter and we had two bad ice storms with loss of power for several days.