I have the light timed to come on a 3:00am. We usually get off of work at this time so it is always a joke to see if we can get home before the chooks wake. lol
I use a chick brooder lamp shield with a 75 watt bulb. But this is in a large coop also. If you have an 8x8 coop, a 40 watt should suffice. Try to have the light come on to wake them up. If it is set to turn off in the evening, there might be a chance of birds being caught off of their roost and stuck spending the night huddled in a corner.
A few years ago, when I learned of the 14 hour trick, I spent a lot of money on a greenhouse bulb to light the birds. Belatedly, I learned that the spectrum of light needed to stimulate laying was the warm end of the light spectrum. Pulled a generic soft light bulb from the hall closet- and I was in business.
I use a chick brooder lamp shield with a 75 watt bulb. But this is in a large coop also. If you have an 8x8 coop, a 40 watt should suffice. Try to have the light come on to wake them up. If it is set to turn off in the evening, there might be a chance of birds being caught off of their roost and stuck spending the night huddled in a corner.
A few years ago, when I learned of the 14 hour trick, I spent a lot of money on a greenhouse bulb to light the birds. Belatedly, I learned that the spectrum of light needed to stimulate laying was the warm end of the light spectrum. Pulled a generic soft light bulb from the hall closet- and I was in business.
mine too took a nose dive. I need some info on the light thing,I understand the timer but what kind of bulb do you use and for how long. I don't want any heat in the house so i am having a hard time with how much light. Does it just need to be "not dark" for a few more hours. Do you do yours a m or p m thanks