Need coop lighting ideas

[mrsgibber]

Does anyone have a suggestion for lighting a coop that doesn't have a power source? I'm trying to find the impossible... a wireless (battery operated) light that can be set on a timer.

Any thoughts on how I can get some light in the coop?

 

[mrsgibber]

Anyone?

 

[coderpitt]

Harbor freight solar light shed kit? Or were you looking for something more technical that has a timer?

 

[mrsgibber]

Ya, I was hoping for a timer so that the light goes on at 5 am. It is not easy to find.

 

[joebryant]

I ain't no electrical engineer, so consider the following with a box of salt.
If you want it to give a couple of extra hours of daylight for egg laying, you might try a solar battery charger used for electric farm fences along with a timer to shut the light off. I'd use the lowest watt bulb that would do the job.
Also, you can buy ANY length of whatever the correct size wire to make an extra-long extension cord. Lay it on the ground; you won't be cutting grass during the winter.

 

[wing it]

go solar there are all the solar landscape lights mayb something like that might work

 

[Right On Reds]

I have a similar issue I'm trying to plan ahead for.

Although I have an electrical outlet near where the coop will be, the thought of having electricity+lite bulb+combustable hay/wood/shavings terrifies me.

The solar idea might work. I have a flashlight which charges by solar power as well as battery and I suppose it could charge enough on sunny days to give an hour or two more of light.

However, I'm thinking more about the cold in the winter where many say they add a lightbulb to their coop for heat purposes.

What precautions should someone take in either lighting the coop, or heating it with a lightbulb given the combustable nature of things found IN the coop?

 

[big greg barker]

how far from your coop is the nearest power? If you put a proper junction box with a light fixture in, using 14/2 underground wire, and bury it about 6 inches down, you can have lights without worrying about burning your coop down.

 

[Right On Reds]

There's an outlet about five feet from where the cage will be. I use this outlet when I want to have landscape lighting (like strings of xmas lights when I'm hanging out in the summer), and outdoor fan when the need strikes, or a radio.

That's not the part that worries me so much. The bulb would have to be in the cage, no? Or would it be outside? If inside, would you afix it to the roof? That's the part I don't get...... am very sorry if I sound like a silly woman, but that's apparently what I am!!!

 

[reggiejr]

its going to be tough to find a dependable solar light with a timer.i agree with big Greg hardwired ac power is tough to beat.i have an outlet in my coop and i put a timer in the outlet set it for early morning and i used one of those small light bulb plugs that has a receptacle for the bulb and the plug prongs on the other end and i put a new style fluorescent light bulb in it.works great and is safe and very low temp so no fire worries.if the coop isn't super far away i would just run its own separate wire to it from your main panel.so if you have room in your box for a new breaker i believe 14/2 wire would take a 15 amp breaker.just run its own separate line to the coop.get the special wire designed for direct bury.you'll love having power out there when you do it.