post your chicken coop pictures here!

[lynnehd]

I have been having a problem with our hens NOT making it in the automatic door since we have gotten so cold....I put the red bulb in for some heat for them in the nigh time.....but it has not been so cold so I turned the light off...That's when we have the problem.... Has anyone else had this problem? Rae

So do you think the red bulb helps the automatic door stay open longer? So they make it inside?

 

[Granny368W]

So do you think the red bulb helps the automatic door stay open longer? So they make it inside?

I'm not really sure.... When we open the door they still don't go in...I turn the light on and then they go in...it's kind of like if they can't see in they won't go in.... I'm totally confused.....Rae

 

[Granny368W]

So do you think the red bulb helps the automatic door stay open longer? So they make it inside?

No it doesn't keep the door opened because the sensor is outside the coop.... it has just been getting so dark so much earlier.... Rae

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
There is a reason... Switch to a full spectrum how ever dim like a night light and they will see it.

deb

 

[gpeters3]

I have my light on a timer, not the cheap plugin but the hard wired, heavy duty type and two times, morning and night. I liked having it come on a little before dark as a signal to come in. When i checked they were always in by dark except when the predators got them. I no longer range them due to predation :-( My coop is too tall for the light to offer any heat but i think the red light is comforting for them. It also makes checking for eggs a snap after dark.

 

[Latestarter]

Some chickens freak out about entering a "dark cave". With no light inside, even though (because) it's still light outside but getting dark, it looks to them like a big black hole that will swallow them up so they're scared to go in. The light inside allows them to see what they're about to enter so they aren't as freaked out and go in. Not much you can do I'm afraid aside from shooing them inside with the light off so they come to understand that the big black thing isn't going to bite them, or continue to do the red light inside, maybe on a timer circuit. Hope they get it figured out.

 

[Granny368W]

Thank you for all the suggestions, we will be leaving for a couple of weeks soon so I think we're just going to put a low watt bulb in and leave it on the whole time we're gone...our light is hard wired to a switch so I'm not able to put a timer on it... Will the light being on full time bother them? Rae

 

[Granny368W]

There is a reason...   Switch to a full spectrum how ever dim like a night light and they will see it.

deb

Oh, you mean a night light..... ahh... some night lights are brighter than others, I'll look for a nice night to plug in....Great idea... Rae

 

[gpeters3]

They need to sleep just like we do and any sleep study pro will tell you that the best sleep happens in total darkness so leaving a light on full time is not recommended. Red is less of a problem and studies have shown it to be least irritating to them, even soothing. If you are leaving them closed up they dont need any light as long as there is a window to let daylight in. Extra light is only needed if you want max egg production during low light seasons (winter).

 

[Granny368W]

They need to sleep just like we do and any sleep study pro will tell you that the best sleep happens in total darkness so leaving a light on full time is not recommended. Red is less of a problem and studies have shown it to be least irritating to them, even soothing. If you are leaving them closed up they dont need any light as long as there is a window to let daylight in. Extra light is only needed if you want max egg production during low light seasons (winter).

Well their automatic door opens up to their run, it let's them out in the morning and then it closes in the night, they are double protected,you could say...I don't want them to be held up in the hen house all day....So I'm thinking that a night light would be the best... It will only be or 2 weeks....Rae