Electricity IN The COOP?Lights?

[sgtmom52]

I have electricity in both my coops ~ DH ran it underground through conduit. All of the outlets and lights in the coop area are on the ceiling to prevent the chickens from getting to them. I have the outlets lower in the storage area. I can't imagine having a walk in coop without it.

 

[kera!]

Thanks again my BRO IL is an electrician so i will make sure it is correct, I want this expierence to be a great one for my kids and woul hate to cause harm to the chicks or myself...

 

[Holmes' Homestead]

I've been thinking about this myself lately. I'm in the midst of looking for plans to build a coop. It will be set back a good distance from the house, and running electricity underground sounds like a big on-taking. Although, I'm not sure how safe running a lead cord all the way to the coop is, and would be weary of it laying covered by snow for months. I'm considering buying a solar panel and connect a light or heat lamp to it for their water. I work from home, so going out there twice a day to change their water wouldn't be a problem. Does anyone here recommend going solar? Thanks for your help.

 

[Count Orloff]

Holmes' Homestead :

I've been thinking about this myself lately. I'm in the midst of looking for plans to build a coop. It will be set back a good distance from the house, and running electricity underground sounds like a big on-taking. Although, I'm not sure how safe running a lead cord all the way to the coop is, and would be weary of it laying covered by snow for months. I'm considering buying a solar panel and connect a light or heat lamp to it for their water. I work from home, so going out there twice a day to change their water wouldn't be a problem. Does anyone here recommend going solar? Thanks for your help.

I wouldn't recommend a heat lamp for myriad reasons. As long as you can keep their water unfrozen for most of the day during the coldest days, you will be fine. Heat lamp bulbs are usually 250 watts. You will need a pretty big solar panel to run that for any lengthy of time. See my comments above about the green extension cords. My light fixture is hardwired into a cord that I can run an extension cord out to when the day lengths become shorter.​

 

[70monte]

My coop has electricity and lights and I like both. I use a heated dog dish in the winter and its nice to be able to turn on a light in the coop at night if need be.

Wayne

 

[justbugged]

We laid conduit before we poured our concrete patio. We have electricity that is supplied at the moment by an external extension cord (aka green colored cord). It is the electric supply to the small greenhouse that is right next to the coop. We have the cord from the coop light going into the greenhouse, and is plugged into a timer. But I am hoping that we will get the set up complete this summer. I want an outlet and light in both the coop and run. I am sure that we will run the lights as high as we can, and cover anything that the birds could possibly get to.

Solar sounds like a great idea. The only thing that might get in the way is cost.

 

[My6Chicks]

We have 20 amp service in the coop. It keeps our waterer liquid, powers our Christmas lights and chick cam. It was a big and expensive project bringing power to the coop, but it is well worth it. The convenience and the flexibility of having power is great and makes caring for the chicks easier. Good luck to you...

 

[chicknerd]

kera! :

building a new large coop should I run electricity to it. does everyone else have electricity in their coop.

We live in a cold area where the water would freeze in the coop if we didn't have a water heater. We installed the electricity for that primarily but we ended up using heat lamps when it gets too cold as well. I expect to use some fans in the summer too.

My coop is 12x8. Not sure if that is big or not.​

 

[Imp]

Be careful with that...

I knew something was up when the hens had electricity installed.

Then the big screen showed up.

Imp- and now I see they added a wi

 

[pontoosuc]

We had our coop for several months without electricity and I thought it was just fine.

We recently ran electricity for a water heater and lights and I LOVE it!
We are in New England and it gets cold.

It makes evening chores so much better!! We have a walk in coop also containing a
storage area. If you have the budget for it, or plan for it later in your current design, I'd suggest it.

The girls have asked for the big screen TV and the Wii but so far we have only sprung
for the jacuzzi!