Level of Safe Lighting

[XanderWiFi]

Hello! First time posting and raising chickens! Having a great time with it so far. My question has been been asked many times but often digresses in other threads. Here goes:

I have read chickens perceive white light as sunlight, their egg laying and hormones are dependent upon this perception, and with too much unnatural light eggbounding can occur (which I do not want to happen). My question does not pertain at all to supplemental lighting for increased egg production; only to convenience lighting for my human eyes when I want to check on them etc.

I purchased a crystal clear 50 led light solar string light set to accomplish this. When I check on them at night it appears to give off the amount of light comparable to a night with a full moon and clear sky. Will this be too much light and create issues for them? Light set link below

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-...Copper-String-Light-Set-HD28257WH50/205511366

 

[Kiki]

Sounds like you just want a light so you can see them correct?
Any light will work for that...just be sure to turn it off at night when you are finished checking on them.

 

[XanderWiFi]

To an extent, yes. But I also worry about one getting pushed off the roost (we have ten) and not being able to get back up or hurt itself (very unlikely). Yes, I understand they live in the trees in the wild where night comes. But moonlight does occur-which gives them no light when shut into the coop at night.

 

[Flock In Texas]

Maybe you can put a small light outside the coop. Some light will come in through a window, but they can stil get to the shadows for sleep. The light will help you see at night as well.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

You could try using red, yellow, or green lights at low levels, as a night light. They do fine with just a little moonglow, so something no brighter than that.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you are just wanting light to inspect them when they are roosting (?)

Red light works well. I have a 25w red light bulb in my coop on a dimmer - I can adjust to the level I need to see.

A head lamp with red light also works fairly well, I used that with my brooding area, but found the light was a bit too bright so covered it with a piece of cloth to dim it - chicks got up and wanted to party if it was too bright.

 

[Folly's place]

I have lights available in my coop, and turn them on sometimes, at dusk. Mostly I use a flashlight, and a head lamp would work too. Mary

 

[aart]

Ditto the headlights...couldn't wouldn't want to chickeneer without it.
Mine has 3 settings, which is nice,
use high when examining and low for grabbing birds.
Need a new one, switch starting to get funky.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have "normal" lights in the coop as well, I use those when cleaning. They are just too bright for nighttime inspections

Agree, another light (headlamp) is used to check bums for critters when roosting - the dimmed red light is so I can see so I don't break my neck, it also gives enough light if I have a straggler that hasn't roosted yet

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I found a really nice tiltable LED headlamp a few years back that also switches from different levels of white light as well as a green one, which supposedly helps save your night vision. The birds don't seem to rouse with the green light unless I speak, which seems to wake them instantly. I'll find the package and post in a bit. I don't remember what I paid, but remember it was reasonable on Amazon.