Run light

[A Man and his Chickens]

I’m wondering if anyone else uses a light in their run so the chickens get more outdoor time. With winter quickly approaching here in jersey, it starting to get dark very early. We installed a light in the run, that we turn on when it’s just about dusk so the chickens can stay out longer. Is there any negative thoughts on this?

I'm putting lights in the coop and run, with a timer on them to turn on at 2 a.m and stay on til 8 a.m. This way the chickens get the "normal" dusk and go off to bed as it is getting dark earlier and earlier here with winter setting in. They get the natural bedtime fading of light then out of bed a bit earlier. Someone on this site recommended that and it sounds like it would be easier on the hens.

 

[CKfarm22]

I'm putting lights in the coop and run, with a timer on them to turn on at 2 a.m and stay on til 8 a.m. This way the chickens get the "normal" dusk and go off to bed as it is getting dark earlier and earlier here with winter setting in. They get the natural bedtime fading of light then out of bed a bit earlier. Someone on this site recommended that and it sounds like it would be easier on the hens.

Am i ask why 2 am to 8 am?

 

[Sydney65]

I’m wondering if anyone else uses a light in their run so the chickens get more outdoor time. With winter quickly approaching here in jersey, it starting to get dark very early. We installed a light in the run, that we turn on when it’s just about dusk so the chickens can stay out longer. Is there any negative thoughts on this?

My run is enclosed in the winter, so I leave the pop door open most of the time. I have solar lights mounted out front of run, so it usually is lit..unless there's no sun....

 

[All4Eggz]

Honestly, yes and no. We installed a no heat light into the coop so there’s light for us when we clean it out (we get home when it’s just turning dark). And the chickens always want to go inside while we’re trying to clean it. We also fill their water and food in the run at night and it was getting to be a “i can’t find the stupid flashlight”…. so my boyfriend installed basically flood lights into the run, so it’s easier for us when we fill their food and so they have a little bit more “daylight” to stay out. I’m hoping it will help the egg production in the winter considering it gets dark very early here

Cool! It's a win win! Extra light for you and the hens!

 

[All4Eggz]

I just figured i would show you what the light looks like. Right now it’s dark out and the hens are still outside

Those are pretty bright! looks like a pretty good simulation of a sun

 

[All4Eggz]

Am i ask why 2 am to 8 am?

It's so the hens can have the full 14 hours of daylight to produce an egg, when there is insufficient daylight from the sun. 2 am to 8 am is exactly 14 hours of "sun" light

 

[CKfarm22]

It's so the hens can have the full 14 hours of daylight to produce an egg, when there is insufficient daylight from the sun. 2 am to 8 am is exactly 14 hours of "sun" light

ohhh i gotcha. I always turn it off at 8 pm because after that is their bed time

 

[suburbanfarmermi]

Here is a good article on the subject of adding light. Click here

I have a light in the hen house and run. Right now the light comes on at 6am and shuts off at 9am. I also like this arrangement so the chickens are up and the coop is lit when I check on the chickens before I leave for work.

 

[CKfarm22]

Mine is direct wired....

I don't see extension cords in your pics.

Heat lamps are a real fire hazard due to the heat they produce and the really unsafe clips the fixture comes with.

My boyfriend is the one who did it. It’s an extension cord that runs to a different thing and then to a power strip