Security light that goes on frequently

[DonyaQuick]

I just got a couple of solar powered security lights to put around the coop I've been working on for my chicks. I know it won't deter a determined predator, but I thought it would be useful if I have to go out at night and also to illuminate any unwanted visitors so I can see what's out there from my bedroom balcony. One light was fine and only set off if I walked by it, but the other one went off a few times per hour for most of the night. I'm not sure if I can fix that right away, since I think it was likely rodents setting it off (nothing else was out there). If it keeps going on periodically throughout the night, will that be bad for my chickens?

Coop info: I've been modifying a Precision XL coop kit to be more predator proof with a bunch of 1/2in, 23 gauge welded wire hardware cloth and extra latches. The kits itself has a covered run that uses the same hardware cloth on the sides. I added a layer of hardware cloth under the roof and a 2ft predator skirt held in with big landscape fabric pins and covered with mulch for now (can't bury it; soil is too rocky). There has been a constant onslaught of chipmunks trying to get in during the day by climbing and digging with no successful entries. I've added spring-based latches on all outside doors. The main predators I've seen in my area are hawks, owls, foxes, and some kid of large weasel. I assume there must also be racoons somewhere, but I have yet to see one and nobody seems to need racoon-proof trash bins. I really don't want to do a hot wire because no one else in the area uses them with poultry and from past experience I'm really prone to getting popped by them when tired (and hate the ticking sound they make).

I have not yet had my month-old chickens out there overnight due to some weird cold snaps. I've been letting them be in the run during the day and bring them inside at night, but that will need to change in the next day or two since the nighttime temps have come back up.

 

[mowin]

I had a solar light that had a mind of its own. Would come on when a moth flew by, but me waving and jumping around like a fool wouldn't trip it. Had another that would turn into a disco light when the temps fell below freezing. It could be yours is picking up branches moving in the wind.

It's not going to effects the chicks as long as it's not on constantly.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

I had the same questions last year when putting our first babies out. Agree with @mowin that some light here and there probably won't disturb the birds too much, but you might try repositioning it, or buy more lights that may be less touchy. You'll probably find you want more lights anyway, and they're not exactly expensive.

I'm a huge fan of motion-sensor solar lights. They're so helpful for chicken chores after dusk – we have rattlesnakes, so in warm months, we step nowhere at night without light – and if you hear any weird noises after dark, the lights can be another indicator that you better hot step it down there.

Good on you for modifying your coop to be more predator proof. We even added keyed locks to deter raccoons, though they seem pretty well deterred by the bear-proof electric fencing around the whole chicken yard. I'm with you on reeeally disliking electric, but with all these smoky mountain black bears, I got over that. We keep bees, too, and foregoing electric here is flirting with disaster.

I'd be more afraid of whatever that weasel thing is There's a history of weasels on our mountain, and it's why we put hardware cloth over every opening that measures over 1/2". The fact they exist here still scares me, as it should; vigilance is part of loving your chickens, I suppose!

 

[DonyaQuick]

Awesome - ok it sounds like I can keep experimenting with the lights while I get my little chickens used to sleeping in the coop.

I'm with you on reeeally disliking electric, but with all these smoky mountain black bears, I got over that.

I was worried I was moving into bear country, but I haven't seen one bit of evidence of them so I don't think I have to worry too much about them. My property goes back a long ways into the forest so I've hiked it a lot and have seen a lot of tracks and other animal signs but no bears. I live around a lot of cattle and other livestock farms and it seems like the farmers here do a good job of keeping larger land predators out of the area.

I'd be more afraid of whatever that weasel thing is

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what type I'm dealing with. I saw a good sized, very long brown thing run across the road as I was driving out one day. Definitely some sort of weasel but first time I've ever seen such a thing in the wild. I've heard they like to be around water and one edge of my property is bounded by a steep drop to a creek, so no too surprising.

We even added keyed locks to deter raccoons

Is it possible to get things like that with some kind of generic, uninteresting key? I am a chronic loser of unique keys to small padlocks - got a stack of the darned things where I hope some day the key will turn up again. I've tried searching but one of the things I've run into with this coop mod is that terminology matters a lot to find the right thing. I wondered about combination locks but I'm worried they'd get gummed up and stuck (another worry I have for padlocks outdoors).

 

[mowin]

I'm going to guess fisher cat or possibly a mink.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Is it possible to get things like that with some kind of generic, uninteresting key? I am a chronic loser of unique keys to small padlocks - got a stack of the darned things where I hope some day the key will turn up again. I've tried searching but one of the things I've run into with this coop mod is that terminology matters a lot to find the right thing. I wondered about combination locks but I'm worried they'd get gummed up and stuck (another worry I have for padlocks outdoors).

It's a great question. We have 5, soon to be 7, total keyed entries on the coops, and every one has a different key.

We had to make a "don't lose the dang keys" system and just stick to it, by adding hooks to secret locations where the keys must always go as soon as you unlock a coop. We also keep a ring of back-up keys in our back-up-key bowl in the house, as we are also avid shedders of important keys

Here's an example of why the locks are worth it to us: a honey bee swarm decided to spend the night on the fence charger, so we left it off that night. The next morning, the coop keys had been removed from their secret locations and dropped around the yard. You can just picture the raccoons sitting around, trying to figure out how keys work. They really are smart.

That's a good point about terminology, yes. So frustrating searching for stuff! If it helps, we've added these "keyed hasps" to any coops that didn't come with locking doors. No whisper of rust or wear after a year, despite the fact we live on the outskirts of a temperate rainforest.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gatehouse-3-5-in-Steel-Keyed-Hinge-Hasp/1000138601

I also like these for higher locations on the coop, like places where a raccoon would have to do enough acrobatics that it would only have one hand free to work a lock. I found them at TSC, but they're evidently at Lowe's-type stores, too.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-Zinc-Gate-Latch/3036123

Honestly, even if you aren't seeing them, raccoons gotta be around. Oooh and if you really want to freak yourself out, set up a trail camera. That's how we learned about the foxes, coyotes, family of 5 raccoons, bobcats...and so many more predators we'd not have been as vigilant about otherwise. On the positive side, it's really neat to see how wildlife acts when they don't know we're looking.

 

[AntiqueB]

I have motion lights. I'm sure some light gets in through the coop window, but the light is angled to go past the coop, rather than straight into the window. It does not seem to bother the birds.

I also have keyed padlocks on my coop. I bought 2 packs of 3, and put the same ones on the doors I use most. That way, I only need one key. I occasionally need to lubricate the locks, but they've held up for a year now. I used these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-...Keyed-Alike-M115XTRILFCCSEN/202260774#overlay

 

[3KillerBs]

If you end up keeping a rooster you might find that intermittent light triggers middle of the night crowing.

My in-town rooster reacted to light from passing cars that made the particular turn which caused the headlights to shine on the coop.

 

[DonyaQuick]

I'm going to guess fisher cat or possibly a mink.

I'd have to see one again to know for sure now that I've looked up what a fisher cat is. It could have either been a medium-sized one of those or a good-sized mink. I do remember being surprised at how big it was so maybe that points to fisher cat?

we've added these "keyed hasps" to any coops that didn't come with locking doors

Hasps! A new word for me today. I saw your post just before I was heading out to Lowes for some other stuff. I thought well, if there isn't a thing that takes a really generic key then I'll just try to minimize the keys I do have to deal with. So, bam!

That door is pretty heavy so having something hefty is good. Unfortunately there are narrower bits where I couldn't install the same thing because the screws are set just a bit too wide, but right next to the hasps were these other things which I've put on all the narrower places that needed latches.

All exterior doors have locks in some form now. I've given a good pry on all of them in various ways and they stay put, keeping the doors closed even if all other latches are undone. For the ones needing padlocks, I got 2 packs of 2 padlocks that share keys, so with the hasp that makes 3 keys total for 5 doors. I can definitely live with that for now. Everything came with two sets of keys, so I have one collection carabineered to the main door handle for easy access and the second set in a kitchen drawer as a backup.

I also like these for higher locations on the coop, like places where a raccoon would have to do enough acrobatics that it would only have one hand free to work a lock. I found them at TSC, but they're evidently at Lowe's-type stores, too.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-Zinc-Gate-Latch/3036123

I actually just put on some of that exact thing. I'm using those at the tops of exterior doors and have now added locking things lower down on sideways-opening doors while still being reachable.

If you end up keeping a rooster you might find that intermittent light triggers middle of the night crowing.

Might not be a bad thing if it's a critter that triggers it...and one of my flock is definitely trending towards the roo look right now.

Earlier today I tried re-locating both onto 36" wood stakes in the ground, which has them a bit lower down than they were before. So far they are behaving better after dark while also getting better coverage around the coop. Fingers crossed I don't have another weird light show tonight.

Since there are now locks on everything, the weather is perfect, and the lights seem to be behaving a bit better, I decided that it was time for my chickens to spend their first night in the coop. It really needed to happen, since bringing a tub full of good-sized birds back inside every night was getting both difficult and a bit absurd, but oh man...I am going to be waking up at every little creak and clunk tonight. There's a deer that likes to maraud around my lawn every night that will no doubt be waking me up several times.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Ahhh, the first night out. How did it go?

The hasp looks great. We're hasp twinsies. I put the nickel version on a new coop yesterday afternoon. We're moving 8 babies outside sometime this week. I just realized I need to mentally prepare myself for that. Carrying those growing biddies back and forth every day does start to become a feat of strength.

I'm with you on the rooster noise. I've come to rely on it. Ours is 13 months and has calmed down enough he's pretty economic about crowing, so when he crows, we know to look outside. His voice carries, so anywhere we are on the mountain, we'll know if a person drives up our driveway (that's a good thing). Guard roosters are underrated.