Questions about artificial light in winter months

[BYOChickens]

I know the days are getting longer, but being new to the business....Has anyone ever used landscape lighting placed in the coop to provide extra light during the short months? I don't know if I want to dig, and lay electrical lines out to the coop. Is there a light that would produce enough light that you could find at the "big box stores" that could be rigged up to run into the coop. I have asked before, but am curious if anyone else has found an alternative to wiring to the coop? If so, what brand or make and model of solar has worked for you? How many solar lights would work in a 4X8 coop?

 

[chickened]

I use 40 watt bulbs and mine lay year round. I wired them in. If the chickens hop up and down from the roost after dark I think the light is adequate.

 

[kittycooks]

I use a heavy duty contractor extension cord. Over the winter it is buried under the snow. It runs a 100 watt heat lamp and heated water bowl. Not as good as hard wiring but we only use it during the winter months and my coop is 80 feet from the house. For a couple of dollars more you can get one with a lighted socket so you always know if it is on.

 

[kittycooks]

My hens reduced laying in December but picked up again in January. Extra lighting is not required for eggs. I do have spot lights that shine from the house if I need to check on them in the dark.

 

[ddmiddle7]

Quote:
What do you mean by a lighted socket? I am debating how to light and heat my coop in the winter too. Not sure if I can run electrical out there.

 

[farmer_lew]

I ran an extension cord through grey pvc conduit, suspended overhead, and hardwred a light fixture to it (cut the female plug off the cord). It is plugged in the garage to a timer. The conduit is sealed with an adhesive caulk, not pvc glue, and is water resistant (I hesitate to say water proof as neither end of the conduit is sealed, but indoors).

 

[clairabean]

I have a few strings of christmas lights up in the coop run with an extension cord. Covered with snow from October to April. No need in those few short summer months.

Where are you that you feel you need to heat the coop? Chickens generally don't need to be heated.

 

[kidd42]

I use a heavy duty extension cord that runs on the ground, We don't get snow so it is not buried. Then I strung 4 strings of white LED christmas lights in the coop and over the outside run. This gives them enough light to wake them up and venture into the run area. My egg production went from 0 eggs for about 2 months to 6 - 8 eggs a day with 8 hens.

 

[kidd42]

Quote:
And I forgot to add, they are on a timer to come on at 4 a.m. and off at 7:30 a.m.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Heavy duty outdoor extension cords, with the connections protected from moisture work. I ran one out to the grow-out tractor, when I finished brooding some chicks in it. You can also buy a little solar panel. Some people use them for their automatic doors or even their electric fences. An LED light is going to use a lot less energy than even a compact florescent.

I light in the winter. Pullets normally lay fine the first winter without added light. I also need electric to keep the water thawed, as it freezes inside the coop. I don't normally heat in the winter. I do brood chicks in the coop. So, with all of that, we decided to run electric to the coop and wire it.