Light in the coop question - how and what/where to buy

[seann]

Hello,

Light in the Coop?
I'm thinking of supplying a light fixture in my small chicken coop.
I read some articles here and found that I need:
1) 12v battery deep cycle
2) 12v inverter
3) light fixture
4) light bulb (LED, 40watt equivalent)
5) timer
What else am I missing?

Solar?
I don't intend to charge it using solar because I think the battery can last for many years which mean the cost of the solar panel and charge controller do not justify the benefits. Am I wrong?

What/where to buy?
Can someone link me from amazon, homedepot, lowes or wherever the battery and the inverter? I'm new at this.

Thank you!

Edit #01:
I found this on amazon, maybe all I need due to small size of the chicken coop. Cost will be cheaper than above items, I believe.
http://www.amazon.com/80-LED-Digita...d=1399584690&sr=1-6&keywords=solar+led+lights
Thoughts?

Edit #02:
Nevermind, above is a motion flood light. I need one with timer which I couldn't find any so far. Sigh.

Edit #03:
Another question: how many lumens does it need to trick chickens it's daylight?

Edit #04:
Found out that the battery only lasts 20ish days with just 8watt lamp. This means I need to charge the battery somehow. How do you charge a battery? solar? anything else or solar is easiest/most efficient?

Edit #05:
Ok I looked around and these may cost upward $111 (battery $23, inverter $30, solar charger $24, charge controller $12, lamp holder $2, led lighbulb $10 +tax) and therefore may not be worth the trouble.

Pro: more eggs (but for $111??)
Con: chickens may need to take a break from laying eggs = live longer, don't have to spend $111, possible fire hazard, may need to maintain system (maybe battery needs to be replaced, broken charger, etc)

Note: I have a small coop with 8 chickens

 

[4 the Birds]

Hello,

Light in the Coop?
I'm thinking of supplying a light fixture in my small chicken coop.
I read some articles here and found that I need:
1) 12v battery deep cycle
2) 12v inverter
3) light fixture
4) light bulb (LED, 40watt equivalent)
5) timer
What else am I missing?

Solar?
I don't intend to charge it using solar because I think the battery can last for many years which mean the cost of the solar panel and charge controller do not justify the benefits. Am I wrong?

What/where to buy?
Can someone link me from amazon, homedepot, lowes or wherever the battery and the inverter? I'm new at this.

Thank you!

Edit #01:
I found this on amazon, maybe all I need due to small size of the chicken coop. Cost will be cheaper than above items, I believe.
http://www.amazon.com/80-LED-Digita...d=1399584690&sr=1-6&keywords=solar+led+lights
Thoughts?

Edit #02:
Nevermind, above is a motion flood light. I need one with timer which I couldn't find any so far. Sigh.

Edit #03:
Another question: how many lumens does it need to trick chickens it's daylight?

Edit #04:
Found out that the battery only lasts 20ish days with just 8watt lamp. This means I need to charge the battery somehow. How do you charge a battery? solar? anything else or solar is easiest/most efficient?

Edit #05:
Ok I looked around and these may cost upward $111 (battery $23, inverter $30, solar charger $24, charge controller $12, lamp holder $2, led lighbulb $10 +tax) and therefore may not be worth the trouble.

Pro: more eggs (but for $111??)
Con: chickens may need to take a break from laying eggs = live longer, don't have to spend $111, possible fire hazard, may need to maintain system (maybe battery needs to be replaced, broken charger, etc)

Note: I have a small coop with 8 chickens
I

Hello,

Light in the Coop?
I'm thinking of supplying a light fixture in my small chicken coop.
I read some articles here and found that I need:
1) 12v battery deep cycle
2) 12v inverter
3) light fixture
4) light bulb (LED, 40watt equivalent)
5) timer
What else am I missing?

Solar?
I don't intend to charge it using solar because I think the battery can last for many years which mean the cost of the solar panel and charge controller do not justify the benefits. Am I wrong?

What/where to buy?
Can someone link me from amazon, homedepot, lowes or wherever the battery and the inverter? I'm new at this.

Thank you!

Edit #01:
I found this on amazon, maybe all I need due to small size of the chicken coop. Cost will be cheaper than above items, I believe.
http://www.amazon.com/80-LED-Digita...d=1399584690&sr=1-6&keywords=solar+led+lights
Thoughts?

Edit #02:
Nevermind, above is a motion flood light. I need one with timer which I couldn't find any so far. Sigh.

Edit #03:
Another question: how many lumens does it need to trick chickens it's daylight?

Edit #04:
Found out that the battery only lasts 20ish days with just 8watt lamp. This means I need to charge the battery somehow. How do you charge a battery? solar? anything else or solar is easiest/most efficient?

Edit #05:
Ok I looked around and these may cost upward $111 (battery $23, inverter $30, solar charger $24, charge controller $12, lamp holder $2, led lighbulb $10 +tax) and therefore may not be worth the trouble.

Pro: more eggs (but for $111??)
Con: chickens may need to take a break from laying eggs = live longer, don't have to spend $111, possible fire hazard, may need to maintain system (maybe battery needs to be replaced, broken charger, etc)

Note: I have a small coop with 8 chickens

Looks like you are over thinking things!

Not sure of your location but if you have a northern coop then you will probably want electric to the coop for a heated water dispenser. Then it would be simple to add a small light. If you are in a southern location without electric and want to add a small light to extend daylight during the Winter, you can buy a solar light for 20 bucks. Some have a small remote solar panel that can be attached to the roof. They come with a 6' or so extension wired to a light source that is activated by a light sensor.

I add a light source in the Winter months to improve egg production.

 

[dheltzel]

Our local dollar store has solar lights that you push in the ground. If you drill a hole in the sunny side of the coop and stick that through, that may be all you need.

Or you could go deluxe for about $12 with this: http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-rope-light-68353.html

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many lumens you need depends on your coop. The test to see if it is enough light is that you should be able to read a newspaper in there.

Technically it's not the days getting shorter that causes the molt, it's nights getting longer. But the key to keeping them laying is not so much a magic number of hours of light per day, it is to keep the daylight from getting shorter or nights from getting longer. Many people use 14 hours, but if you are far enough away from the equator that your days are longer than 14 hours, they may be in a molt and stopped laying by the time they get down to 14 hours of daylight. How many hours you need depends on where you live.

 

[seann]

Thanks for replies.

Northern or southern? I'm in San Diego, California.

http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-rope-light-68353.html
Would this be bright enough? I think it will not.