please help..interior coop light?......advice??

[ksct]

We have recently changed the heat light in our coop from the red to the white (i don't believe that it gets nearly as warm, but we have only wanted it for the white color)
Our birds will be 7 weeks tomorrow. Here in upstate NY at this time of year it is usually quite warm at night, however the crazy "summer" we have had is giving us cooler nights than we expected. We were having a hard time getting the chicks to go inside the coop at night with no light/ red heat light. Now that we have the white light, they go in freely when they're ready to in the evening. My question now becomes....... We keep it on all night. We have been closing the door to the run when we go out and check on them at night and we open it in the morning for them. We are a little protective of them because we do have some crafty predators. I just didn't know if they enjoy the light on all night. Should we keep the run door open for them all night? Does the bright light in the coop bother them? I ask the last question because we tentatively plan to have it there for the winter should it get terribly cold. Does it mess up their "internal clock"?
Should we be shutting the light off when/if we close the run door at night?

~i think i have no idea about this.....

 

[mayden]

I have the same question about the light. I live here on the PA, NY border and I changed the light to a compact flourescent and that seems to be fine. My chicks are about the same age as yours and I did this a couple of weeks ago even when temps dropped below 50 at night.

I personally have always kept them locked in the coop at night. I have a motion light outside the door because a few weeks ago I saw a fox just outside the coop. I took a shot at it but missed because it was just too dark. I set a trap for the fox but I ended up getting a possum one night and then a few days later I caught a raccoon.

 

[Zahboo]

If you have roosters, they will not stop crowing is my experience. They don't sleep as well. I would use a red brooder light if at all possible. Chickens can handle pretty cold temperatures and at 7 weeks they can handle probably lower 50s at least. Close the run door. I'm not sure if it will drive them bonkers or not. Could you set it up on a timer or turn it off after they are all on the roost?

 

[vnploveschickens]

The chicks will get into the habit of going into the coop at about dusk. But for now try to put the light on a timer. They need to get their rest. Once everyone is going into the coop, they won't need the light at all.

 

[chuckzoo]

I read an interesting aritcle on Chicken Keeping Secrets website this morning. Apparently the only light that chickens can't see i.e. will not disturb their sleep is a blue light. The light will still give off warmth and still let them rest.

 

[Doormantnt]

Hello.
My six ladies all around 14 weeks old have grown used to the light. I need it 24 hrs when they were in the house (for warmth). But when they got "kicked out" of the basement on the 2nd of July and into the coop I put the light on a timer. and since have toned it down from all night (only first couple days) to 2hrs at dusk, and about 45 min. at dawn.

It is histerical to watch them go up the ramp to the coop at 8:00 on the nose, 25 minutes before the light even comes on. Straight in, and right to roost. and I have no clue what time they get going in the morning, when I come out at 6:00 in the morn, they are ready to go out and into the run, they are out and down the ramp bout the same time I latch it open.

the light is just a standard 40 watt bulb, and I am in central MD, so right now warmth is NOT an issue.

I to lock them in the coop at night, I am fabricator, contractor by trade, so the run and coop are build like Fort Knox, but I don't chance it. to many critters running around.

so for the record, Digital timers ($15 bucks at wally mart) MONEY well spent.

 

[osagebill88]

Where I live in OK its either the red heat lamp or the clear aka white. Mine have always done better with the red. I have a regular light that kicks on at 5 to give them extra day light in the winter months. But it only really matters for egg laying purposes. I have used space heaters in the past but there really is no need here.

 

[ksct]

So should we still keep closing the door to the run @ night. I'd like them to be able to get out in the run if they want before we get up. We open the door for them between 6-6:30am. So if we turn the light off after they're in at night they should be fine? and they don't/won't freak out in the dark without light?
We do have a little roo. he'll be 7 weeks tomorrow as well as the others.

If they can handle 50 degree weather should we just turn it off at night once they're in?

 

[ChooksChick]

They don't need light on at night, and while it will be an adjustment, they need it off at night. They do not need access to the run at night, and that extra layer of security is better for predator-protection, anyway.

Extra light all night can play havoc with their developing reproduction system, and there's lots of evidence that long days (lots of light) while growing can give a greater chance of laying problems in the future.

That being said, you'll find that you need light on for about an hour prior to dusk and half hour after dark for them to go into the coop at night, since the light will attract them (like moths!) and they don't like to go into dark spaces (who does?).

I use a timer with a low light compact fluorescent bulb, which I switch out in the winter for an incandescent that stays on all day and augment with a ceramic (no-light) 250W bulb for more heat in the winter.

I recommend one use nails to prevent a clamp lamp from falling, as you will have a miserable fire if you don't- they like to try to jump on lights, even if they don't look like a place to land...

Welcome to chicken-addiction!

 

[ksct]

thank you to everyone, especially chooks.... the info was very helpful! We do have a solar light, that isn't bright enough for them to use it to "lure" them in so maybe we'll turn the other light out and allow that for a few days so they can adjust. I had no idea it would mess up the egg laying process later, i was concerned but I thought I was just being over cautious.

and yes, we do have a "silent addiction" to these birds. We weren't supposed to have a roo (our friend ended up with 2 and he dind't want any either) but we took 1 because DH wants to raise chicks! ha! and everyone thought i'd be the one.

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