Lights for shorter days???

[MIKE555444]

I could not work out a solar light(or the expense there of) so I ran electricity to my coop. That let me do a timed light for laying, I added a seperate light for after hour checks and it also powers the electric fence. I also hope to put a small heater in the water this winter. My light comes on at about 4:45am and off at 8:00am - by then it's already day light outside so its a smooth transition.

 

[henningheather]

Hey Mike555444- Where did you find the plug in light bulb thing? I looked high and low for that exact thing and could not find it.

 

[MIKE555444]

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Found it at a small local hardware store

Sorry ... I know that is not much help less your coming to Charleston WV LOL

 

[bigoakhunter]

I got one this week at Home Depot....( light plug in thingy)

For the extended light for layers , can you use a red 100 Watt light? Or does it need to be white light? I currently have a 250 watt red bulb in for heat, but the chicks are at the point where that will go bye-bye and I will only have a supplemental light on to provide 14 hrs. of light.

 

[cherylcohen]

so should we be lighting the he house after they are in on their roost? all our other places are in an outdoor pen and a sort of free-range but confined area?

 

[OrpingtonManor]

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I'm right around the corner from you.
I add enough light to bring them to 14 hours a day. It would be better if I added light in the morning, but I add it at night because of the kind of timer I have. They go in the coop at dark, but still kick around in the bedding and eat a little more. (I have the feeder inside the coop.)

 

[bukbugack]

I much prefer to add light at night rather than in the morning. It cuts down on early morning egg-calling (which is a bit much at 4am), and also lets me spend more evening quality time with my birds.

As for the problem of a sudden lights out, I just use a separate timer attached to a kids nightlight. The nightlight is set to stay on 15 minutes longer than the bright light, providing an "artficial dusk" so the birds can find their way up to their roosts before total darkness comes.

So, my birds have a natural sunrise, and the lights go out in the late evening. A total of about 14 hrs. seems to work.

 

[MIKE555444]

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Very cool idea.... I have been adding to the morning but never thought about adding the extra night light for nights... thanks for sharing.

 

[newchicksnducks]

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Great idea! I too would rather be able to do chores etc after work instead of in the wee hours of the morning. ( I start work at 7am!) But I was leary of letting the light go out suddenly in the evening, abandoning some of the girls on the coop floor in the dark. This would easily and inexpensively solve this problem

I love this site - BYC's variety of people and experiences help all us newbies!

 

[bukbugack]

-About the nightlight-

I should add that when I switched my birds to a night schedule I did it gradually, by a half hour to an hour every week. I was afraid that a sudden change might trigger a molt.