Lighting

[Stephen1152]

People have varying views on whether to light the coop or not. From my past experience raising birds and working in a pet store when I was younger, I always believed in a little night light so in the event a bird gets startled during the night, it can find its way back to its perch. I had a red light in my coop from when I first put my chicks out. But it was way too bright but they liked it and went in to roost at night. Now that 2 of them started laying, they would lay in the nest box. This week I replaced it with a 2 watt small red LED light as I don't want them laying all winter. They refused to go in. Two nights ago I put them in by hand after dark. The next day I found a blue egg by the door. Obviously they are not roosting, just hanging out by the door all night. I added another 2 watt red bulb last night right above the door entry and still had to put them in. This morning I found a broken white egg at the bottom of the ladder going into the coop. My hunch is to just leave things alone and they will eventually get used to it. Anyone have an opinion?

 

[Abriana]

Chickens don't need lighting, I think you should just leave them to get used to it. Think about it, chickens were fine for thousands of years without lighting in their coops (or wherever ancient chickens lived) so they don't need any now. But really you should do what is best. If you feel your birds need lighting in their coop, then go for it, but remember, they do not have to have it.

 

[Stephen1152]

Thank you for your reply. I think just changing the environment confused and scared them. I do believe in a small light as I have a great amount of knowledge about birds. Just not chickens. But just nothing too bright. Thanks again for answering my question as to your recomendation.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Use a clear LED nightlight. With a 2 watt red nightlight, they won't be able to see.
I use a clear LED nightlight so they can see to hop onto the roosts after sunset.
I used to leave it on all night. Then one night, when I locked up the coop about a half hour after sunset, I noticed that one hen was bullying the others off of the top roost.
Then the next night I went out after sunset and the same thing was happening, and she was trying to peck the girls on a lower roost, from the upper roost. I have a 4x5 foot coop. So not much I could do.
So now I shut off the nightlight when I lockup for the night. Problem solved. GC

 

[Abriana]

Thank you for your reply. I think just changing the environment confused and scared them. I do believe in a small light as I have a great amount of knowledge about birds. Just not chickens. But just nothing too bright. Thanks again for answering my question as to your recomendation.

So as not to scare them, put a light in one night, and then gradually reduce the amount of lighting in the coop until it is dark. That way they won't be too stressed.

 

[Abriana]

Use a clear LED nightlight. With a 2 watt red nightlight, they won't be able to see.
I use a clear LED nightlight so they can see to hop onto the roosts after sunset.
I used to leave it on all night. Then one night, when I locked up the coop about a half hour after sunset, I noticed that one hen was bullying the others off of the top roost.
Then the next night I went out after sunset and the same thing was happening, and she was trying to peck the girls on a lower roost, from the upper roost. I have a 4x5 foot coop. So not much I could do.
So now I shut off the nightlight when I lockup for the night. Problem solved. GC

Yes, and the more light then they can see whose next to them and peck them off. I always close my coop door when I am locking up and counting them at night so that the top hens don't peck the ones next to them.

 

[aart]

How big is your coop and how many birds?
Pics would help.
Do you lock then in coop at night or do they have access to run?

I don't think they need any light at night, once they are on the roost and it's dark they are going to stay put. Any red light is not going to keep them laying all winter, that takes a timed white light of sufficient wattage to stimulate the glands, but it may be enough light to let them be active, which is not preferable for chickens IMO.

 

[Stephen1152]

How big is your coop and how many birds?
Pics would help.
Do you lock then in coop at night or do they have access to run?

I don't think they need any light at night, once they are on the roost and it's dark they are going to stay put. Any red light is not going to keep them laying all winter, that takes a timed white light of sufficient wattage to stimulate the glands, but it may be enough light to let them be active, which is not preferable for chickens IMO.

I am not home every night to lock them in the coop. I feel like I really screwed up my chickens. I put them out in early spring so I had a heat light in the coop. They went in and roosted every night. I then changed it to a 2 watt small red light. They stopped going in. I tried putting them in by hand for a few nights in a row. That only caused them to lay eggs by the door which became dirty and/or broken. I have 4 hens. Two are laying. So now I have one that sits on her nest all night. Comes out in the morning goes back in to lay her egg and comes back out all day. The other 3 stay out all night on a perch I have in the run. I'm afraid to change anything as not to mess with their heads anymore. I thought when the weather got bad, they would go in. Last night it rained and they still stayed on the perch. They are covered, but I am still sure they got wet a bit.

 

[aart]

Chicken behavior can be modified, as can keeper behavior(if willing), you can get them sheltered before winter hits hard. Don't worry about screwing them up with changes, they will adjust with time, but it's best to figure out the best changes to make first.

If you want some suggestions on how to improve things,
would you post pics of your coop and run, inside and out?