Lights inside coop Powered by Solar panel?

[savilcr]

I have been thinking about hooking the lights in my coop up to a battery with a solar panel on the roof so I would not need to run an extension cord to the house. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[Jake1297]

I have no experience with the solar lighting, and always thought the batteries wouldn't last long from charging. So I decided to run power to my coop by first running a 1/8 cable from the house to the coop. Which is 75 feet. Then I ran outdoor 14-2 wire and used zip ties to secure it to the cable. It is wired to the electrical panel on its own circuit. The coop has two lights and three recepticals. You may want to look into this. I did it for less than $40.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I have a solar light out in my run. Works wonderfully! Got it at Menards, and it was really reasonably priced. I was thinking it was going to be pretty expensive.
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoor...lar-security-flood-light/p-1398573-c-6403.htm
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoor...lar-security-flood-light/p-1398574-c-6403.htm

 

[aggie9296]

I put a solar light in my shed. Northern Tool. Less than 30$. The neighbors outdoor security light lights up the coop pretty well.

 

[ChooksChick]

I use solar powered Christmas lights and rope lights. They are already set up to turn on at dusk and the solar rope lights are pretty indestructible.

Definitely the way to go, as you can circle them around the inner perimeter of the coop for good ambient light. You can replace the battery when need be, as well.

$15 at Target.

 

[Jake1297]

I stand corrected. I think I will get solar lights for an outside light to see from the house to the coop.

 

[savilcr]

Right now I have a split coop with two separate sides, I have a Florescent light on one side and a halogen light bulb on the other, both are connected to an extension chord that has a timer on it for dusk and dawn times. this makes them lay very well but i'd like to get rid of the extension chord.

 

[Stacykins]

Solar powered Christmas lights....Brilliance! I am totally going to use 'em when my coop is set in place with chickens!

 

[banananutmuffin]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always read that if you're going to add artificial light, it's better to add it during the morning rather than at night (something about abruptly sending the chickens into darkness or something). So is this solar light you're talking about just for extra ambient light so you can see the chickens rather than actually boosting egg production?

 

[Jake1297]

Mine get 14 hours of light. Sun rises around 6am here, and I have a timer that turns on the coop light, and turns it off at 8pm. My egg production has always been good, except when I stressed them out with a remodel this winter.