Lighting in the winter

[Eric Katz - Kulisha]

If I want egg production to continue through the winter do I need to light both inside the coop and the run? Or just inside the coop?

Also, I was told to use a warmer (more orange/red) bulb as opposed to the more white ones that humans generally use. Is that correct? If so any link on good bulbs, particularly solar powered lights would be really helpful. Thanks!

 

[debid]

If your chickens are pullets, they will lay through the winter without extra light. Hens, however, often slow or stop laying altogether when the days get short.

The color of the supplemental light doesn't matter. It should not be a florescent light simply because chickens can see the flickering and that's a stressor. Otherwise, use whatever bulb you like.

The idea is to have the light reach their eyes where it can stimulate the receptor in their brain. I don't light the run but then my coop is big enough for them to be comfortable for a few hours in the morning while they wait for the sun to rise.

I use a heavy duty shop light fixture (the knd with a cage around the bulb) with an incandescent bulb and an inexpensive mechanical timer. I'll invest in an LED when the supply of bulbs we removed from our house runs out.

 

[RonP]

Also, I was told to use a warmer (more orange/red) bulb as opposed to the more white ones that humans generally use. Is that correct? If so any link on good bulbs, particularly solar powered lights would be really helpful. Thanks!

My research also indicated that a 'warm" color range worked best...
2700-3000k

 

[3riverschick]

I got a solar light and mounted it outside by the window so that the light would shine inside the coop .you really don't need a lot of light. University of Vermont has an article on lighting. it's very little.
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
There's PDF on-line from Purdue titled " Proper Light Management For your Home Laying Flock".
Actually the paper is from the University of Nebraska . it's just reached through the Purdue website . it has a really nice 12 months chart on how much daylight and night the birds need.
Best,
Karen

 

[CapricornFarm]

I just ordered one of those solar energy lights made for chicken coops. Seemed quite reasonable, under $13.

 

[karma33]

I just ordered one of those solar energy lights made for chicken coops. Seemed quite reasonable, under $13.

do you have a link for this please? @CapricornFarm

 

[3riverschick]

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.
www.lowes.com
Karen

 

[aart]

A timer is essential.
Light needs to be bright enough to read a newspaper at roost level.
Food and water should be available whenever light is on.

 

[KluDatCoop]

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?