red light in coop

[catecorsaut]

so my three girls were going into the coop around 6 which is super early for them but i think it’s because it gets dark and they go to their roost before it’s too dark to see. i added red LEDS around a portion of the ceiling of their coop to help them see at night so they wouldn’t have to go in so early. i have been turning the light off around 8:30 when they are all on the roost. is this pointless? does red light help with stress? should i keep it on all night? i try to do right by then but i don’t know if this is actually benefiting them.

 

[aart]

so my three girls were going into the coop around 6 which is super early for them but i think it’s because it gets dark and they go to their roost before it’s too dark to see.

Normal this time of year.

I don't see that lighting having any benefit.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Chickens don’t understand time they understand that dark=danger and feeling unsafe. I would remove the lights and let them do their thing. Chickens have been taking care of themselves long before we have and don’t need micromanaged. I would question the survival instincts of any chicken that isn’t going in earlier this time of year before it gets too dark.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How much light do they have outside when it gets dark? Some people have security lights or street lights. How dark is the coop when it starts getting dark. Do you have enough natural light in the coop that they can see to go to bed when the outside is dark enough to tell them to go to bed? To me, the best way to determine this is to leave that red light off and see what happens.

If they put themselves to bed life is good. If they don't you can either cut more windows to make it lighter inside or put that light on for a short time so they can see to go to bed. Then turn it off.

To me, that is the only possible benefit to leaving the light on, then only if needed. If your coop is big enough that you might be working in it at night then you may need to see but the chickens do not so having that option may be good.

 

[1motorpsycho]

so my three girls were going into the coop around 6 which is super early for them but i think it’s because it gets dark and they go to their roost before it’s too dark to see. i added red LEDS around a portion of the ceiling of their coop to help them see at night so they wouldn’t have to go in so early. i have been turning the light off around 8:30 when they are all on the roost. is this pointless? does red light help with stress? should i keep it on all night? i try to do right by then but i don’t know if this is actually benefiting them.

I think they are happy. There's probably a leader that wants to go to bed early. Count your blessings. If it were the other way around, you'd probably not have 3 girls by now.
I have my timer on a little before dark, then it goes off at 11pm. I used to have it back on in the morning but this timer is extremely complicated.

 

[Mrs. K]

When it is dark, chickens need to be in the coop.

 

[AGeese]

so my three girls were going into the coop around 6 which is super early for them but i think it’s because it gets dark and they go to their roost before it’s too dark to see. i added red LEDS around a portion of the ceiling of their coop to help them see at night so they wouldn’t have to go in so early. i have been turning the light off around 8:30 when they are all on the roost. is this pointless? does red light help with stress? should i keep it on all night? i try to do right by then but i don’t know if this is actually benefiting them.

Yep, it's pointless, probably not worth your effort, or any potiential stress it could cause them.

I wouldn't use cheap LEDs if you were going to, but red lights serve only one purpose in my opinion: To camoflague wounds in situations of brooding chick agression.

Beyond the first few days with day old chicks, I no longer keep any additional light source on, and let them adjust to the natural light I have available coming in through my windows. After that, they're tuned to mother nature from there on out.