Do I need a light in my coop?

[crazyhen]

I find that a light that is usable in the coop if necessary is great. It allows me to check the chickens when it is a dreary day and semidark in there. If I have baby chicks it is nice to be able to keep them warm. Electricity, although not necessary, is very nice to have. If I have a chance for it, I would get it. Gloria jean

 

[newchicksnducks]

We've only had chickens since May. The coop has an attached run. The girls have been putting themselves inside at night, I just have to lock the pop door. If I'm late getting out there, I've taken a flash light to do a quick head count. One day I was running late, forgot the flash light, but just locked the pop door. The next morning when I went out to let them out for the day, I found one of my EE out in the run! For some reason, the only night I did not do a head count was the only night one of the birds did not get inside before dark!! Luckily, she was ok (we lost 2 ducks to weasels earlier this summer when they were left in the run overnight). This past weekend my DH ran electricity underground in conduit to my coop. I now have a light and a 4-plug outlet!

It was great to just flip a switch to do my head count last night.

 

[lafemmeale]

My girls free range during the day & weren't a big fan of the coop & wouldn't come home at night. I spend a few weeks worth of evenings chasing the girls into the coop in the dark until I put a 1 watt solar light in the coop, it's not bright enough to keep them up, but I haven't had a single problem with them going to bed at night! I love my little light!