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

[only one lay]

Home improvement stores have timers for about 8 $.
I like the kind with the pull up tabs for on / off, They have a clock around the edge and are pie to work with.
It allows easy adjustments for the changing seasons and fit right in between plug and outlet or ext cord.
Light for only 1 hr till in then it can shut itself off.. In winter I maintain the dark schdule.

 

[ChooksChick]

We're delighted to add you to the community!

It's a fabulous addiction, but the contraband roos get to be difficult- I have trials with this daily...and he's on my daughter's stomach sleeping right now...and he's nearly bigger than her at this point (skinny kid, giant boy) and he's only 22 weeks...he's still a skinny young man.

I live in the middle of town, and while the 18 pullets and hens are legal, the roo was ruled out by an ordinance passed when he was 9 weeks old. Prior to that, there wasn't any regulation at all, due to a poorly written ordinance in the 80's.

There was no accommodation for existing roos- no grandfathering.

He's not very loud, and unless you're in the back of my yard or one of the neighboring yards, you can't hear his morning crow- but he's got a big voice. I haven't any windows in the big coop, but rather a lot of space for the number of birds and a fan- and poop boards so there isn't any accumulating ammonia.

If he crowed much during the day, I'd have to get rid of him- and I do think I have to do this eventually, but he's re-growing a cross-beak after having it surgically fixed (even had a prosthesis for a while) because the doctor accidentally broke it while trimming it- long story.

He's a little harder to rehome than most.

Keep this story in mind and try to prepare for the crowing with your contraband roo- it's worth it to have a roo- I will always want one- but it's very difficult if you have to try to stifle the noise...loud, brazen, arrogance drives the crowing mechanism by design...it's magnificent!

 

[Monk]

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[ChooksChick]

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I agree this works in many cases, but it depends on the construction of the coop. Mine is windowless (due to said contraband roo) and thus dark in the winter months except for the pop door, which is only very small.

In the summer I leave the people doors open, for a 6' x 6' opening. Right now, light is no issue to my younger birds, who like to go to bed early, but my hens wait until it's very dark, and on days when I've failed to adjust the timer to lengthening hours of sunlight, the light went off before the big girls came in...and they were on the floor when I came out to lock up.

Had I windows, they'd be limited to the natural light. I prefer this way. It allows for bedtime drinks and MommaLuna can get her babies adjusted under her wings, now that they're roosting!

 

[Monk]

I agree this works in many cases, but it depends on the construction of the coop. Mine is windowless (due to said contraband roo) and thus dark in the winter months except for the pop door, which is only very small.

In the summer I leave the people doors open, for a 6' x 6' opening. Right now, light is no issue to my younger birds, who like to go to bed early, but my hens wait until it's very dark, and on days when I've failed to adjust the timer to lengthening hours of sunlight, the light went off before the big girls came in...and they were on the floor when I came out to lock up.

Had I windows, they'd be limited to the natural light. I prefer this way. It allows for bedtime drinks and MommaLuna can get her babies adjusted under her wings, now that they're roosting!

I use a light in the winter but the timer is set to turn on before dawn. The new flourescent bulb are dim at first when cold and brighten up as they warm, almost like the natural dawn light. I rely on natural light to allow them to find their roost as usual. Mornings are usually the coldest period of the day also, I think the additional warmth for the light early perks them up a little, especially at -30°.
This system seems to work for the birds, but probably it may work better for me though?​

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
I use a light in the winter but the timer is set to turn on before dawn. The new flourescent bulb are dim at first when cold and brighten up as they warm, almost like the natural dawn light. I rely on natural light to allow them to find their roost as usual. Mornings are usually the coldest period of the day also, I think the additional warmth for the light early perks them up a little, especially at -30°.
This system seems to work for the birds, but probably it may work better for me though?

I do the same thing!! My timer allows me to set it to come on and turn off for two separate sessions each day. I get them a bit of extra light for better egg production, but not too much, because I don't want to overwork them.