Lighting in the winter

[aart]

This is our (and our hens') first winter upcoming. We're in northern Illinois, our chickens have a Deluxe Coupe (I'm a car guy) that is fairly weather tight and well-insulated. The run is sheltered. As the tech guy, I installed Philips Hue light in coop, and I'm learning how to program it, somewhat because I don't trust the digital light timer, somewhat because I just enjoy the challenge. I'm finding the apps and programming a little challenging, and I'm looking for experience. I'm using the Philips Hue app and Hue lab for programming and Apple Home app for monitoring. Other apps seem to be overkill for just white lights. Any other experiences with this process?

Welcome to BYC!
Start a new thread titled something like "Light Control App Programming'.
There are several programming folks here.

 

[jthornton]

The idea is to have the light reach their eyes where it can stimulate the receptor in their brain.

Day length is not actually registered by the eyes of the chicken. The pineal gland in the brains of chickens sits just beneath a thin area of the skull, right between the hen's eyes. This organ is what senses day length, and stimulates the pituitary gland to start hormone production that results in eggs being laid.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/09/supplemental-light-in-coop-why-how.html

Genetically blind chickens still know if it is dark time is more than the light time.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Lowe's sells the solar lights. it's the Portofino brand .they have several different strengths and sizes to choose from. Be nice if one could put a bulb with the warmer spectrum in it. The PDF mentioned above it is best for encouraging egg laying.
Karen

A solar light will come on at dusk just the opposite of what you want. To use solar you need to collect energy in a battery during the day and using a timer or other means turn it on 14 hours before sunset and turn it off at sunrise.

JT

 

[Hokum Coco]

do I need to light both inside the coop and the run?

When setting the timer for your birds add the extra hours in the morning letting dusk and night fall prepare them to roost.

My method for dealing with winter is quite simple one extra feeder of whole corn. I live in Canada subject to -40º. I have 67 trips around the sun. I have raised various types of chickens and birds for decades.

TLC still has to be provided to birds that may not be adapting well to the diet. For the most part birds are vocal happy and do just fine. NO HEAT NO EXTRA LIGHT please and thank you works fine for me and my flock.

If for any reason you find it necessary to supply electricity to your coop via extension cord.

Please employ a "Ground Fault Outlet" also use a "Safety Chain" in conjunction to any heat lamp or incandescent bulb after mounting.
One coop fire is too many and these precautions could be the difference.

A simple action such as a rodent chewing on your extension cord could be the cause of a coop fire and a ground fault circuit could be the difference in witnessing your coop in tack or a pile of smoldering ash.

P.S. There are now a variety of ground fault extension cords available in major retail centers that also would be a wise investment.

 

[Folly's place]

My timer is set for 4am to 8am every morning, from early October to April, and helps keep some eggs coming all winter. Mary