Lighting without electricity?

[mountain chicken]

waving right back at ya , I've been doing the math in my head
if I can keep a steady 65* on a 90* day should be able to maintain 45 to 50 in winter
if not always got a back up plan

 

[mountain chicken]

lol SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH be vary vary quiete

 

[PirateGirl]

waving right back at ya , I've been doing the math in my head
if I can keep a steady 65* on a 90* day should be able to maintain 45 to 50 in winter
if not always got a back up plan

They are amazingly good at self regulating their body temperature with their feathers. Think about the birds that live near you year round, outdoors, without a nice coop to sleep in. Many of them are smaller than chickens and do just fine, chickens are no exception

 

[mountain chicken]

very true never looked at it like that

 

[LisaMarie81]

Ok, another thing, sleeping in the nest box should be discouraged. Block off the nest box until they are closer to laying. They will eventually learn to use the roost.

Blocking off the nesting boxes. Didn't even think about that! Thanks

Can I ask....what should be the "average" (comfortable) space for sleeping - per bird?, and average space for the run per bird? Is there a ratio you guys like to follow so your birds are comfortable and happy?.
We know this store bought thing is just to start (as we've read they can be flimsy and crappy). We are planning on increasing the run and the coop, we just figured this was a good base to start with.
We have 8 birds - 3 bantams, 5 larger breeds (orps, barred, etc).
The run dimensions are 8 ft x 4 1/2 ft and the coop dimensions are 7ft x 3ft.
Does this sound adequate for 8 birds? How much bigger would you go? It just seems so "small" to me. I'm not happy with it and have been bugging my husband already about an addition. He's trying to hold me off till next spring knowing the girls are still growing right now.

 

[PirateGirl]

I hate to break it to you, but it is small.

10 to 12 inches of roost bar (at the highest level if you have multiples) per bird. Bantams can use less. In cold weather they will huddle and use half the space, in warm weather they will spread out and use it all. This also allows them to be able to turn around and hop on/off the roost without crashing into/disturbing anyone else.

Generally 4 square feet of coop space per bird (I think it's 3 square feet for bantams). And 10 square feet of run per bird if they do not free range.

My birds have 10 square feet of run each and I feel it's too small, but the 4 square feet each in the coop seems adequate, but every flock and every climate is different. We are planning a fenced run expansion that the chickens and ducks can use alternately.

 

[MROO]

I've seen a few posts on lighting but can't find the answer I'm seeking.

Does anyone have a light (or found a light) that can go on the inside but the solar charging portion is separate so that maybe I can put that on the outside? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

It's getting to be a pain going out every night to physically pick these girls up and put them to bed. LOL
Thanks!

I learned this trick from elderly friends who kept several in a flower pot on their front porch. When the power gwent out, they brought the stakes inside - and had light all night long!
Pick up a solar yard light stake from your local dollar store and install it by the open door of your coop. If there's no place to stick it in dirt, put in a flower pot full of rocks. Make sure there's a drainage hole to let rainwater through, otherwise you'll get skeeters - which I learned the hard way! The stake charges all day and gives enough light at night to let the chickens see inside.
I now keep one on the landing of my coop, three on the front porch and one in my kitchen window. They're the best nightlights I've ever had!

 

[LisaMarie81]

I hate to break it to you, but it is small.

10 to 12 inches of roost bar (at the highest level if you have multiples) per bird. Bantams can use less. In cold weather they will huddle and use half the space, in warm weather they will spread out and use it all. This also allows them to be able to turn around and hop on/off the roost without crashing into/disturbing anyone else.

Generally 4 square feet of coop space per bird (I think it's 3 square feet for bantams). And 10 square feet of run per bird if they do not free range.

My birds have 10 square feet of run each and I feel it's too small, but the 4 square feet each in the coop seems adequate, but every flock and every climate is different. We are planning a fenced run expansion that the chickens and ducks can use alternately.

That's the kind of chicken math I was looking for. Thanks! We have the room, and supplies aren't a problem, so whenever Hubby is ready. Adding on to the run piece of cake because this was a kit. Basically take off one side, expand - done
Coop will be a little more of a challenge so let me ask you this. what about a "2 story" coop. Pic below is a stock pic of the coop we have. What if I make the entire bottom undeneath the coop another "level" of the coop. Open up the whole thing so it's one big unit, add some more roosting bars, etc. Since we'd be expanding the run itself we really don't need the underneath.
The coop is mostly in the shade so using underneath to get out of the sun isn't an issue

 

[mountain chicken]

I would think a second story to be neat but I sure would hate to be the one to clean it

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No I do not have plexi or anything other than these small windows which are only screen so when it's chilly I close them.
I do lock them in at night and would have no problem turning on a light. The problem is they won't go in on their own without a light so I'm physically picking up and putting each one in the coop. That's why I kinda wanted a solar light that as it got dark would turn on and allow them to "put themselves to bed". Good idea with the plexi though so that the morning sun can shine in as well. Poor girls it's dark in there.
Thanks for the info on the light! that sounds like what I'm looking for!

I see some red flags.
Small windows. - Need big windows.
Screen on windows. - Needs to be hardware cloth.
It's dark in there. - Because windows are closed = no ventilation.

The windows are small windows with wire mesh over them. No glass/plexi. I only close them when it seems it's going to be chilly. Good point on the ventilation though. So (looking ahead) I figured I'd have to close the coop up everynight in winter to help keep some warmth inside. Sounds like that may be a bad idea now. How do you tackle winter? ventilation vs cold?

By keeping BIG windows wide open. Chickens are outdoor animals adaptable to a wide range of climates. They don't need warmth, they need fresh air. The only reason they need a coop is for protection from rain and predators.

T... a store bought kit so it should have the proper ventilation. …

I guess what I need to stop doing is closing them on cool nights. My thought was these chicks are still young (7 weeks old) and I wasn't sure if they would have adequate feathers to maintain warmth. I've found them all huddled in one nesting box together, that's why I closed the windows. …

So in winter these birds really are "ok" in the harsh New England weather? I feel bad for the little things already ...

Don't count on anything in a store bought coop kit being in the best interest of the chickens. I've never seen a store coop that was made properly for the number of chickens they falsely claim it will hold.

7 week old chicks will sleep in a big pile whether they are hot or cold.

It is likely no harsher than the climate the breeds were developed in, without concern about temperature. Plymouth Rocks were developed in Massachusetts long before there was any means to keep them warm in winter.

...Can I ask....what should be the "average" (comfortable) space for sleeping - per bird?, and average space for the run per bird? Is there a ratio you guys like to follow so your birds are comfortable and happy?.
We know this store bought thing is just to start (as we've read they can be flimsy and crappy). We are planning on increasing the run and the coop, we just figured this was a good base to start with.
We have 8 birds - 3 bantams, 5 larger breeds (orps, barred, etc).
The run dimensions are 8 ft x 4 1/2 ft and the coop dimensions are 7ft x 3ft.
Does this sound adequate for 8 birds? How much bigger would you go? It just seems so "small" to me. I'm not happy with it and have been bugging my husband already about an addition. He's trying to hold me off till next spring knowing the girls are still growing right now.

Not really adequate. You can get by with 10" of roost space per bird. You need 4sq. ft. per bird in the coop and 10 sq. ft. per bird in the run at a minimum.
Your coop can hold 5 adult birds.
They will be fully grown before winter hits.
Without providing a lot more ventilation as densely stocked as they are, be prepared for respiratory issues this winter or before.