One crazy arse idea about lighting

[Right On Reds]

I live in NYC. Wanted the light for both heat and for winter laying.

I'll check out those links, thanks!! Though I've never used oil for anything like this before. Our house runs on gas.

In the winter the temps here can go down a bit. Not unheard of to have windchills below zero, though there won't be too many days of that - maybe 5 to 10 per year.

Mostly the temps in the winter range from 20 degrees to 40 degrees. Where the coop is currently (it's small so can be moved) is protected by a stone wall on one side, the north side (the nest box side) and a six foot fence down one of the long sides (which is east). The indoor part has a door which faces to the south.

I have not yet put all four chickens in a night. Just the two smaller ones. Even though the cage/coop/whatever is rated for up to six birds it just looks too small. Plus the indoor area's roosts aren't high enough since the ceiling is low. Stupid me thought the thing would be bigger!! So I'm thinking of ways to expand on it so that I'm more comfortable putting all four birds in so that they don't kill eachother. This is the coop:

http://www.wholesalechickencoops.com/hss09 chicken coop.html

I like the coop a lot, just thinking it should be bigger. I even thought of getting another one and putting them together. Thoughts please?




Thanks!!

 

[edselpdx]

Quote:
The oil-filled heaters are electric heaters, but filled with oil that heats up and holds and radiates heat well. Kind of like a radiator system. It's cheaper to run for heat than a bulb system or standard "electric space heater, and much safer, as it doesn't get too hot. However, it wouldn't address your winter lighting issues.

Maybe a combination of an oil-filled heater and some LED's. LED's are really cheap to run, and the rope LED lighting is inexpensive at Big Orange or your local big box store or online.

ed

 

[Right On Reds]

Wow. Okay, that sounds very possible that heater thing. And I like the rope lights LED thing as well. Would the color of the LED light make a difference.... as in some are yellow, some that white/greyish hue color. Or, would a regular string of rope lights (as in not LED) work better, putting aside the cost.

Thank you!!

 

[cobrien]

---if you want lights at night, you will always need a battery!

you'd just need more solar panel area & battery capacity to get the amount of light you want and the time you want.

If you tell me how many watts your lights add up to, how long you want to use it in the winter, and where you live I can tell you how much solar panel area + how much battery you need. I am a solar engineer and can figure it out for you, email [email protected] as I can't always check here a lot.

-Colleen

 

[toxo]

Quote:
If aesthetics aren't a major consideration, It wouldn't be difficult to cut a hole in the roof and fix a box on the top to hold the lighting unit. If you're a bit handy, You might even consider making a pent or even an apex roof over that portion of the coop.

Paul

 

[oberhaslikid]

Quote:
What kind of solar are use using? Where do you buy one from? Is there a way to have solar on a timer? Thanks Scotty

This is where I got mine
http://www.ltdcommodities.com/home/...Ntt=solar+lights&N=37&Nao=0&R=461087-9LLH---1

 

[chixie]

Quote:
thats what i was gonna add...