Do chickens need night lights?

[woodmort]

Quote:
Great grandma had a flock of 40 or 50 mixed hens and roosters of varying ages and didn't care if each hen laid an egg per day. Nor did she care if a chicken or two keeled over from lack of nutrition. Today, for someone with 4 or 5 birds laying an health are more critical to the chickens owners.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
I don't know as using lights to keep a fairly constant amount of "daylight" would cause a problem. I sure wouldn't want them to be on 24/7 but use them to give them a constant 14-16 hrs of light per day should be okay.

If you've gone through watching one hen after another die from egg peritonitis as I have, you may have a different take. No, it may not be that detrimental to add a couple hours of daylight to their day, but I want their rhythms to be natural. If they go broody, that's fine-I want them to have that break from laying, give their bodies a rest. Anything I can do not to add to their reproductive issues is what I want.

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Great grandma had a flock of 40 or 50 mixed hens and roosters of varying ages and didn't care if each hen laid an egg per day. Nor did she care if a chicken or two keeled over from lack of nutrition. Today, for someone with 4 or 5 birds laying an health are more critical to the chickens owners.

Yep, my grandfather had a farm most of his life and the approach to the chickens was a practical approach like most real farmers have, not like the backyard flock owner has. He didn't particularly freak out if a bird was found dead-he threw it to the hogs. You couldn't breathe in the chicken house due to the high ammonia levels. It was a different approach than I have, certainly. Mine are pets. I get attached. It's just my nature, I suppose. I want my birds healthy and as comfortable as possible in return for what they give me.

The extra lighting is really a different issue than the OP's question about them needing a nightlight, though. As I said, they don't need one, but I like them to have a minimal amount of light to see by and I like to have it for us.​

 

[IonaFarm]

My grand parents ran a very orderly farm. They new the count on all their livestock, health conditions and so on. The barn, the coop and other out building were kept clean and orderly. Repairs and painting as needed. Things weren't let go. They had respect for their animals and understood the food chain. They also tought their children those values.

But anyway I have lights in my barn and in the chicks room. It's more of a safety factor for me so I don't fall again and re-break my knee. And yes some of my girls are pets. I do get alot of info and have learned alot from this website. It has made me a better chicken owner and care taker.


Quote:
Great grandma had a flock of 40 or 50 mixed hens and roosters of varying ages and didn't care if each hen laid an egg per day. Nor did she care if a chicken or two keeled over from lack of nutrition. Today, for someone with 4 or 5 birds laying an health are more critical to the chickens owners.

 

[oceanstrength]

I added a night light because one of my chickens was in the habit of laying very early in the morning before my timer light went on at 5am, and she would lay while roosting. The egg would drop, break, and at dawn I would catch them being eaten by the other hens. since this is a very bad habit to get them into, I placed a nightlight. From that time on she has deposited her eggs neatly in the nesting box each for me to collect each morning. My conclusion is she just couldn't see well enough to make it down to the nesting box.

 

[88sub4x4]

I'm in the northeast and I have two outlets in my coop. One has constant power going to mu thermocube for my heated waterer and the other is controlled by a photocell so it only receives power when it's dark. I have a 4 watt incandescent night light plugged into it and I've found my chickens always sleep on the roost and lay in the boxes. I also check on them around midnight every night and the light is great for me to see them and stops them from getting spooked by me coming in. I don't do it as a production thing, I do it for safety for me and less stress on the chickens.

 

[Old Philosopher]

*Deleted by author* (Hadn't read the whole thread)

 

[Debby R]

THAT'S funny! And answered my question.

 

[writerskramp]

Been thinking about it.. I have the jack... Rearanged the roost and egg house.. Due to some 'docile' Black Jersey Giants. A new addition. It's a 'riot' everyday. Moved their feed and water into the roost as I do in winter.. Heated large dog bowl for feed as I ferment. Waterer may work and or not, seen it freeze... but they haven't found the feed except a few.. Was thinking one of those low power LED. Hopefully adjustable to point to the wall.. Only to lead them there to feed. It's dark in there when all the windows are lowered for winter.. I can hardly see myself.. Any input would be appreciated. Chicken Little

 

[aart]

Been thinking about it.. I have the jack... Rearanged the roost and egg house.. Due to some 'docile' Black Jersey Giants. A new addition. It's a 'riot' everyday. Moved their feed and water into the roost as I do in winter.. Heated large dog bowl for feed as I ferment. Waterer may work and or not, seen it freeze... but they haven't found the feed except a few.. Was thinking one of those low power LED. Hopefully adjustable to point to the wall.. Only to lead them there to feed. It's dark in there when all the windows are lowered for winter.. I can hardly see myself.. Any input would be appreciated. Chicken Little

So not your first winter?

Windows do not have clear glass?

Pics of your coop would help here.
....and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[writerskramp]

Would say about eighth winter here.. with chickens.. never used a light and only a heated waterer.. Which can and does freeze occasional to regularly and have tried three styles. One glass window on door center of coup.. Where I used to feed and water in the center of.. moved the feed to the end to add more roosts. One long opac plastic on opposite end.. broken by Jersey's.. recent additions. One green in nest house as the Jersey's broke the other thoroughly.. may just tarp it for winter. Always used to be enough light. It's just darker now a days... little or no sunshine anymore, garden even suffered. Only have a dumb phone attached to a wall and haven't seen the camera in years.. so no pics. Great Lakes.. to subzero most winters a week or two straight.. hit -40 to -50 below in the mid 1980's or 1990's one night without notice.. both dogs and chickens survived then and my truck radiator froze.. but not solid thankfully. Home stayed warm with wood only heat and no insulation in the walls. No frozen pipes, amazingly. Outdoor thermometer shattered at -27. Anything is possible here.. too 104F in summer. Actually saw old post about using 4W.. and the chickens were fine, so may just go for it.. Thanks.