leaving light on?

[butch]

is it okay to leave one light on in the coop every night? would this be good or not?

 

[gitanesteel]

Mine is on a timer until 9:00 pm or so. I have had a heat lamp on all winter over the water. Hasn't seemed to affect the chickens at all other than keeping the egg production going.

 

[Mahonri]

For well over a year and a half now I've had my one light on a timer in the coop. Goes on at 6AM, goes off at 8PM. They are always on the roost way before that but they are laying well and I love that.

 

[Southernbelle]

I choose not to because I think it's better for the hens to be on natural light and I worry about safety of a bulb burning around so much flammable material, but a lot of people do it to keep the hens laying steadily through the winter or for added heat.

 

[KKatknap]

I have been turning the light on in the am, but was concerned it would keep them from going to roost if I left it on at night. Good to hear that it doesn't seem to bother them. I'll start turning it on for a little while at night, too.

I did give them a break until January, but once their molt was over, I started in with the light.

ETA - I wouldn't leave a bright light on all night, if that's what you were asking...but I have heard that a night light of some sort is good.

 

[chookchick]

I am assuming that the OP is referring to leaving a light on ALL the time. This would not be a good idea, as chickens are very sensitive to light and need the darkness to get proper sleep. And the more the light is on, the more they would be "wound up"--likely to have problems with pecking, etc...Now a black or red light is a different story.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. I don't like a light on all night. I don't think my chickens would either. Every living creature needs periods of a day and night.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I left my light on all night long and it never hurt the chickens! They would roost under it! LOL!

 

[teach1rusl]

I leave a 4w night light on all night if/when I'm not using a heat lamp. If they need to get a drink, or I need to go out there for some reason, it's enough that I can see to do that. When I do use a heat lamp, I use the red bulb kind. My girls are used to either. If you want something to leave on all night, I'd advise a red bulb (doesn't have to be a heat bulb). Why are you wanting a light on all the time?

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
We have an energy-efficient, non-incandescent (whatever you call 'em) light on a timer in the coop. It goes on at 4am and off at 7am. We also have a RED heat lamp on in the coop b/c it's been so darned cold this winter here in Connecticut. I don't think it's a good idea to keep a white light on in the coop all night (or necessary).