New pullets, night lights advice?

[Folly's place]

For supplemental winter lighting, it needs to come on in the early morning hours, and go off after daylight. Here, it's 3am or 4am to 8am every day. At night they need normal twilight to roost. The birds need darkness too, not a light that's on all night.
Timers turn up at stores near the outdoor holiday light displays; that's where I got mine. Make it simple!
I have a light hanging from the rafter, and either 40w or 60w is plenty, depending on the size of the coop. Dim light! Make sure it's warm white, and SAFE out there.
Mary

 

[MiaS]

I have a light that I just turn on/off as needed. It's not a big change to the routine that goes into their care and it isn't costly. Use your best judgement.

I could do that but it would not likely be consistent as I'm not up before dawn and I definitely go to bed in serious dark. I'm under the impression that consistency is important

 

[MiaS]

For supplemental winter lighting, it needs to come on in the early morning hours, and go off after daylight. Here, it's 3am or 4am to 8am every day. At night they need normal twilight to roost. The birds need darkness too, not a light that's on all night.
Timers turn up at stores near the outdoor holiday light displays; that's where I got mine. Make it simple!
I have a light hanging from the rafter, and either 40w or 60w is plenty, depending on the size of the coop. Dim light! Make sure it's warm white, and SAFE out there.
Mary

Okay so here's a question. If it comes on prior to actual daylight will they be looking for food for two hours before my pop door opens? I wasn't planning on feeding in the coop, though I suppose I could if needed.

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, food and water need to be available when they wake up, especially in winter! I'm not out there either until much later.
Mary

 

[MiaS]

Yes, food and water need to be available when they wake up, especially in winter! I'm not out there either until much later.
Mary

See this confuses me since most people say no water in the coop due to moisture, especially in cold climates - which I am. I assume I should not offer food without water but maybe they can eat for a while and then drink in a few hours?? So confusing to me.

 

[Folly's place]

My coop and run combination are well ventilated, and the waterers don't leak, and it's not a problem here.
Tiny coops with poor ventilation, or leaking and spilled waterers, are bad.
My first coop arrangement had moisture problems, and I learned!
There's no way I'm getting out there at dawn just to add water.
Mary

 

[aart]

See this confuses me since most people say no water in the coop due to moisture, especially in cold climates

I wouldn't worry about moisture in the coop with your Woods Coop ventilation.

I use a plug in household/vacation type timer, and a heat lamp fixture with a CFL in it.
But yeah, if outlet is where they can touch it you need to cover it somehow.

 

[MiaS]

I wouldn't worry about moisture in the coop with your Woods Coop ventilation.

I use a plug in household/vacation type timer, and a heat lamp fixture with a CFL in it.
But yeah, if outlet is where they can touch it you need to cover it somehow.

Okay, so would I be okay just adding a few hours at night time or do I need to even it out and add light in the morning hours as well? If I can do dusk + a few hours then I can use the Lowes one ( I think) which screws on to my existing overhead lamp with a CFL or an LED bulb

 

[aart]

Okay, so would I be okay just adding a few hours at night time or do I need to even it out and add light in the morning hours as well? If I can do dusk + a few hours then I can use the Lowes one ( I think) which screws on to my existing overhead lamp with a CFL or an LED bulb

I don't think it matters. Some do both morning and night to avoid 3am crowing,
read that it doesn't really interfere with them going to roost.
I like to do mornings because then they go to roost with the natural sunset and I don't care about 3am crowing.

 

[C. Conner]

Okay, so would I be okay just adding a few hours at night time or do I need to even it out and add light in the morning hours as well? If I can do dusk + a few hours then I can use the Lowes one ( I think) which screws on to my existing overhead lamp with a CFL or an LED bulb

I have remote control switches I ordered from Amazon by my back door. I have a hanging small florescent work light I leave in the coop and have installed a lot of small white Christmas lights under the roof of their covered run. When I get up around 7 am I turn on their lights and go let them out so they can get to food and water. Later I turn the lights off. At night before it gets dark I turn their lights on and leave them on until I close the coop at 10 pm. I have had a steady supply of eggs for over a year. This also gives me light without using a flash light when I am letting them out or closing them up. It takes effort on my part but this system works for me.