Does a coop need a light?

[SIMPleChick]

I have been looking around a lot, researching what I might want to do for the coop and I found a few people who have put up outdoor, led, christmas lights and put them on a timer just to lengthen the daylight by a couple hours. I don't know what it will cost for a strand of christmas lights vs one big lamp, but it sounds like a safer way to light things up. I also have seen a microwavable heater pad for dogs and cats that stay warm for 10-12 hours. Some people heat it up and toss it in the coop for a little extra warmth. It is plastic so easily cleaned and doesn't take electricity. Sounds like a good idea to me!

 

[patandchickens]

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They don't actually need a lamp for warmth in the winter in all that many places (I dunno where you are). Chickens are pretty cold-hardy if managed well and breeds chosen intelligently. Although, some people put a regular lightbulb (low wattage) on a timer to increase midwinter daylength so you get less of a drop in egg laying with the shorter days.

You certainly do not need a light in spring/summer (you don't even truly NEED one the rest of the year, you can always forego day-extension and use a headlamp if you have to work out there after dark). But, that said, it is nice to have one available if you need to do something in the coop after dark. OTOH as mentioned a headlamp works pretty well for that too

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[dragonjaze]

well, you don't NEED a light, but how are the chickens going to read after dark if there's no light?

What, you don't think chickens have entertainment stashed away? HAVEN'T YOU PEOPLE SEEN CHICKEN RUN?

 

[lulumammato2]

Thanks everyone for the input, you said just what I wanted to hear I didn't really want to run a cord all the way out there for fear of fire, we do have an outdoor security light though. When they were smaller I had their heat lamp out there and the coop was right outside the back door, but since we've moved the coop and they've gotten bigger it was almost like a beacon to predators. You could see them in there flapping around all night long saying "come and eat me."

 

[lulumammato2]

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[happycountryhens]

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The ones I use are called snuggles and amazon has them. Mine is 10 years old and I use it regularly during the winter for the cat.