Lighting question.

[ducks_rcool329]

I just put a plain old porcelain lamp holder ( 99 cents at Big R) attached to an old pool pump timer..
I really like MIKE555444's timer setup... Iw ould opt for that. My setup is big and bulky with the pump timer...

 

[Ridgerunner]

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They need their sleep. They lay better, are calmer, and are healthier if they get some dark time.

 

[ECBW]

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Maybe they do that at the battery cage chicken farm.

 

[al6517]

Your coop is really small so no lighting would be needed unless like some others have said you want to extend laying which isn't widely recommended due to burn out. if they are are hatchery birds they will lay all winter with just a few minor vacations.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Energy efficient bulbs work great too. Little heat, 13W energy for 60W lumen output and mimic sun spectrum well. We use an outdoor multi switch timer, they're 15 bucks at Home Depot. Works for us as we only have an extension cord to coop for power in winter.

I supply 12 hours of light until daylight gets back to 12 hours, about mid March here.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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I went to the Habitat ReStore and bought a cute interior enclosed light that I am going to put in the roof of the coop. Our coop is in a part of the yard that doesn't have much light at night. I am always doing chores at night, and I figure it will be very handy to see inside. I'm also going to put an outdoor light on the outside of it so I can walk out there in reasonable light at night. We have a LOT of coyotes. I'm not about to walk up to a coyote on a dark night- done that before and it's a very unpleasant surprise. I am only putting just the one light inside- no need to over do it, just looking to light it up if I need to.

Also, here's a idea! For my barn, I bought a remote that the lights can be put on so that I can push a button from inside my house and have the barn light up and I don't have to walk out there in the dark. (no coyotes sneaking up on me! hehe!!) I'm going to put that remote thingie on my chicken coop exterior light. My DH put it on, so I'm not sure how it is set up, but I think it came from Lowes. I bet anyone there could tell you how to do it.

 

[HappyChickenLover]

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Exactly, and reason u want a bulb on a timer is so u don't have to let it run all time. if u keep standard summer day time light on them then they lay in the winter. however if eggs get too cold they won't hatch.... Which is why I use heat lamps. Also keeps water thawed

 

[smokinjay]

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I went to the Habitat ReStore and bought a cute interior enclosed light that I am going to put in the roof of the coop. Our coop is in a part of the yard that doesn't have much light at night. I am always doing chores at night, and I figure it will be very handy to see inside. I'm also going to put an outdoor light on the outside of it so I can walk out there in reasonable light at night. We have a LOT of coyotes. I'm not about to walk up to a coyote on a dark night- done that before and it's a very unpleasant surprise. I am only putting just the one light inside- no need to over do it, just looking to light it up if I need to.

Also, here's a idea! For my barn, I bought a remote that the lights can be put on so that I can push a button from inside my house and have the barn light up and I don't have to walk out there in the dark. (no coyotes sneaking up on me! hehe!!) I'm going to put that remote thingie on my chicken coop exterior light. My DH put it on, so I'm not sure how it is set up, but I think it came from Lowes. I bet anyone there could tell you how to do it.

We have the same set-up and thinking, but I dont mind the coyotes if I can see them...It when I cant.lol There is already a motion ligh up and these birds are young going into winter. (2 weeks right now)

 

[smokinjay]

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Here's where I am at.