Light for Coop?

[MaLoTu]

Is it necessary to have a light for the coop?

If you think it is, will a solar light affixed to the outside, bu the window work?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Is it necessary to have a light for the coop?

If you think it is, will a solar light affixed to the outside, bu the window work?

We will have to know the wattage and the wavelength.

 

[MaLoTu]

I don't know. I really want to know if it is necessary first. I could use recommendations for coops that do not have power hookups.

 

[whittychick]

What is your purpose for lighting? I personally have no added lighting to my coop. In the winter my girls get some time off from laying but still will lay a few a week. This time of year is awesome, sun is up early and goes down later. I do not add any heating source as well. I follow the sun and moon. This method has worked for me and my girls, but everyone does things differently!

 

[MaLoTu]

I actually have a street light that will be visible from the coop. I live in th SF Bay Area where it is decent weather all year long... Even during the winter it is still sunny some days.

I would rather not have one, but there are so many suggestions that I wasn't sure if there was a purpose beyond comfort/convenience.

 

[yellowchicks]

My coop has a garden solar light, placed beneath the skylight. It lit up just long enough for the chickens to get into the coop, settle down and go to sleep. The light serves as a comfort beacon, not for prolonging their egg laying hours.

 

[Chrisfraust]

I have a red heat lamp in my coop but I only use it to get them inside. I want to hook up a solar light with a red lense on it instead.

 

[tigerchick]

I use a solar light that shines on the ramp to go into the hen house. My chicks are too young to lay so it's just to light their way. I have another that shines on the front of the coop but it's for decorative purposes only.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

What is your purpose for lighting? I personally have no added lighting to my coop. In the winter my girls get some time off from laying but still will lay a few a week. This time of year is awesome, sun is up early and goes down later. I do not add any heating source as well. I follow the sun and moon. This method has worked for me and my girls, but everyone does things differently!

X 2 - understanding what purpose you want the light to serve will help to answer what type of lighting will be needed or if it is necessary at all.

 

[Blooie]

I do happen to have a light in my coop, but it's not for the chickens! I don't supply them with supplemental heat or light. But sometimes during the cold, short days of winter I might find myself having to go out and finish up last minute chores I didn't get done during the hour and half of daylight we have. (Just kidding on the length of daylight hours, but sometimes it sure feels that way!) Anyway, the light is for me. I try really hard not to use it - poor chickens would just get settled on the roost and I'd come along and plunge them into bright light. It's just nice to know it's there if I need it.

Hubby is an electrician, and we knew that eventually I'd want to brood chicks out there rather than in the house. So as long as he was already putting in an outlet for that, he just added the light. The right solar light should be okay, but as others have said it depends on what you want to use it for and what size/kind you'd want to use. Since I've only turned on my light switch one time in the whole year it's been up there I don't know that it's "necessary", but it could be a nice touch.