red lighting gel to cover light?

[horstuff]

I have a small, low heat self-contained worklight style fluorescent light in my 3 hen coop. I have heard that it's best to use red light, so i bought a red lighting gel (the kind used in stage and theater productions) to cover the light.

I asked the manufacturer this, but they didn't know... will it be safe as far as any noxious fumes the gel might give off? They said they hadn't tested for that, and nobody ever asked them before. The light is very low heat, only about 8 inches long with one of those plug-in type fluorescent bulbs inside.

I figure somebody out there has done this before... hopefully. Thanks in advance.

 

[aart]

What is the purpose of the light?

 

[Peplers chicks]

What is the purpose of the light?

If you find out let me know, I also used the red light 240w, but the only reason was for the heat and the color red was just to spare the eyes of the chicks, as for the normal globe is heavy on their eyes, only my input, will like to learn otherwise

 

[horstuff]

The purpose of the light is to continue laying productivity going in the winter... I heard that they need a small amount of light in the coop if they are to continue laying in winter. Is that not true?

 

[Percheron chick]

The purpose of the light is to keep them eating. They don't eat as much with reduced daylight hours and they need the energy to keep laying. They don't need heat. Put a low watt bulb on a timer to keep your "daylight" at 12-14 hours.

The red light is keep them from feather picking. More important with chicks that peck at anything than mature hens.

 

[aart]

They need white light for laying, acts on their pineal gland sparking the pituitary gland to release hormones to produce eggs.
At least 14 hours, best started early in the morning. Good article on supplemental light.

 

[debid]

I wouldn't use the color just because there is no benefit and, as stated, not sure if it will release fumes. I've also been told to avoid fluorescent bulbs in the coop because chickens can see them flicker. To them, it looks like a strobe light looks to us. I have a regular 40W bulb on a timer and it's plenty to keep them laying.