Question: should I put a light in my coop at night for my chickens ?

[TXchickmum]

I'm not a fan of lights in the coop. -don't need it to roost/sleep. I don't particularly care for lighting for egg production, either. -prefer to let them do what they do. Nature handles it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chickens don't need to eat and drink at night. Even babies don't need it.

 

[Roseynose]

I don't follow how it would stress them. I have brooded with an incandescent light for heat and they did fine.

https://thefarminguy.com/do-chicken...do not need light,is critical for laying eggs.

 

[Roseynose]

Also here is an interesting study on how light at night affects wild birds. I'd assume chickens could have the same effect. https://www.theguardian.com/science...ban-songbirds-stress-hormones-light-pollution

 

[BDutch]

I'm not a fan of lights in the coop. -don't need it to roost/sleep. I don't particularly care for lighting for egg production, either. -prefer to let them do what they do. Nature handles it.

If there are no windows and no artificial light in the coop, it might be hard for the chickens to find /get up the roost after sunset. However the ventilation openings are often enough to see where to roost.

You need to give the chickens a good night rest in the dark. Put the light out when its dark outside. But leave the ventilation open to avoid a smelly and unhealthy coop.

 

[gtaus]

Got a coop recently but debating if to put a light In There at night so my chickens can see

Better off not having a light on in the coop so your "chickens can see." My chickens will naturally head back into the coop to roost for the night about half an hour before sunset. They should all be on the roost bar and ready for the night before it gets dark. They don't need to eat or drink at night.

Another problem with having a light in the coop is that when the chickens see it getting dark outside, they might get into the coop and find it lighter than outside, so they just go back outside to sleep for the night - or you end up carrying them into the coop and locking them up for the night.

A light in the coop may be beneficial in other uses. Some people use a light on a timer in the coop and set it to turn on early in the morning to encourage more egg production. Chickens are sensitive to daylight hours and that affects their egg production. I haven't used artificial light to stimulate egg production, but I have considered it for the future.