Lighting for henhouse at night??

[1muttsfan]

When you first put the youngsters in the coop, keep them confined inside for a few days to allow them to become used to their new home. Then they should go inside at dusk all on their own, as they know where food, water and roosts are. They do not need light to find the roost, they will roost when the light starts fading on their own. It might be more disorienting to have sudden dark then natural gradually decreasing light. It is better for birds to have natural dark at night, just like it is for people, as it allows for better rest.

Often young birds will sleep on the floor or in nest boxes when young, but they will eventually make their way onto the roosts. Block off the nest boxes if necessary to exclude them until they are older.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

Chickens will not move when they can't see in the dark. Finding them not moving and huddled is normal especially for babies. You can do a light at night at first for a few nights if you'd like. I did for my chicks the first few nights outside until I realized they were up all night, trying to catch the bugs that were coming for the light and not sleeping lol. They will adjust fine just takes a few days.

 

[HeiHeisMom]

Hello,
My chickies are 6 weeks old and ill be putting them in the coop this monday. Does anyone uses lighting for the coop during the night? Since chickens cant see at night i was wondering if putting a little light would be good for them?. Has anyone had this issue before? They are used to have a light on all night and eat during the night too, since i have them inside my house (boujie chickens lol). Last night i put them in the coop for a try out and i went to check on them and they were in a corner without moving, so i grabbed them and put them inside the house again. Should i get like a little battery light or something to have it on at nights? Any advise would be great! Thank you.

We hung blue and red Christmas lights and they love it. The red and blue give used enough to see and they can sleep as well.
Haven't had issues with predators since we hung them either.
A rat snake or two but the chickens snuggle down with them.
The eat snakes leave the eggs alone and share the microwave and from work the roosters.

 

[khrisilou]

I have my 2 and 3 week old chicks outside with no light at all. They have mama heating pad for warmth and are doing wonderful. Chickens will do just fine with the natural day/night cycle.

 

[mviera101]

My coop is near out backyard fence and we have a few solar lamps that have been there pre-coop. They don't stay on all night but provide a bit of light, as many others have said they get used to the dark and need that dark sleep time , like we humans do . Love your coop!

 

[Lawrence Lovestock]

Hello,
My chickies are 6 weeks old and ill be putting them in the coop this monday. Does anyone uses lighting for the coop during the night? Since chickens cant see at night i was wondering if putting a little light would be good for them?. Has anyone had this issue before? They are used to have a light on all night and eat during the night too, since i have them inside my house (boujie chickens lol). Last night i put them in the coop for a try out and i went to check on them and they were in a corner without moving, so i grabbed them and put them inside the house again. Should i get like a little battery light or something to have it on at nights? Any advise would be great! Thank you.

I’m a new chicken momma. My oldest are 4 Months. I have always put one of those solar pathway lights in their little hen house. My main purpose was to deter predators. I’ve also read that when they start laying they will need a few extra hours of light every day after the sun sets.

 

[slordaz]

I never have light or heat in my coop, they learn to be in before it's dark . I take a flashlight with me at dark and do a head count or if i need to check on something. but I have a rooster in the flock too, all a light in there would keep him crowing more as sometimes it appears they don't sleep anyway.

 

[aart]

I’m a new chicken momma. My oldest are 4 Months. I have always put one of those solar pathway lights in their little hen house. My main purpose was to deter predators. I’ve also read that when they start laying they will need a few extra hours of light every day after the sun sets.

That's a good light to use to get them into the coop at dusk, until they figure it out.
But it will not deter predators or be consistent or bright enough for winter laying light.

 

[EdenHallow]

I have a red light in the coop that stays on 24/7, I’ve never had any issues.

 

[Lawrence Lovestock]

That's a good light to use to get them into the coop at dusk, until they figure it out.
But it will not deter predators or be consistent or bright enough for winter laying light.

I live in Hawaii so we don’t have winter. The only predators we deal with are rats n mongoose, we haven’t had a visit yet.