Shine a Spotlight from My Window into Coop

[ConPollos]

My coop is 20' away from my north window. It's a well-constructed commercial shed that I've converted, and it's footprint is 6' x 7'. I've been stressing over how to light it in the winter, since it won't work to run electricity over to it. It's got a big window facing my back window, as well as vent holes under the roof ridge. I'm wondering if it would work to shine a spotlight from my window across the 20' yard area and into the coop. What kind of light would work? How can I do this without blinding the chickens with the glare? I think I'd have to bounce the light off of something, or aim it at louvers. Please help me figure out how to do this, if possible, and if it would work for egg production during short winter days.

 

[fischnchix]

Never have used one myself but maybe a solar powered shed light. Here's a cheap one from walmart. http://mobile.walmart.com/ip/37568187 Being wireless I'm not sure if it would work properly with the light on the inside though.

 

[3riverschick]

I use the 17.98 solar floodlight from Lowes by Portofino. Mount to outside of coop so it shines in thru the window. Works great for my 4x6 by 4 ft. high coop. Lasts 2 years.
Best,
Karen

 

[ConPollos]

I use the 17.98 solar floodlight from Lowes by Portofino. Mount to outside of coop so it shines in thru the window. Works great for my 4x6 by 4 ft. high coop. Lasts 2 years.
 Best,
 Karen

Thank you, guys, so much! I thought solar light wasn't the right kind to stimulate egg production. I'm so relieved to know solar will work! Now, if only there's a solar heater...

 

[ConPollos]

I use the 17.98 solar floodlight from Lowes by Portofino. Mount to outside of coop so it shines in thru the window. Works great for my 4x6 by 4 ft. high coop. Lasts 2 years.
 Best,
 Karen

Oh, I forgot to ask you, is that light on a timer or does it shine into the coop all night long?

And, is the name Portfolio? Do you have a link? Thanks again.

 

[aart]

Lighting for winter egg production should be inside the coop and controlled by a timer to be on for no more than 15-16 hours per day,
ramping up in late summer as the days shorten and ramping back down in spring as the days lengthen.
Abrupt changes in light exposure can cause several stress related maladies such as molting......
......and using winter lighting can interfere with the natural molt so your birds might lay all winter but go into molt another time of the year.

It should be bright enough to read a newspaper on the roost, not that the chickens will be reading,
but they need enough light to see and get down off the roost and eat drink and lay eggs.

 

[ConPollos]

Lighting for winter egg production should be inside the coop and controlled by a timer to be on for no more than 15-16 hours per day,
ramping up in late summer as the days shorten and ramping back down in spring as the days lengthen.
Abrupt changes in light exposure can cause several stress related maladies such as molting......
......and using winter lighting can interfere with the natural molt so your birds might lay all winter but go into molt another time of the year.

 It should be bright enough to read a newspaper on the roost, not that the chickens will be reading,
but they need enough light to see and get down off the roost and eat drink and lay eggs.

Thank you. After reading Fresh Eggs Daily's article against winter lighting, I might just not use artificial light. I'm pretty sure my GCs and BAs might lay through the winter without using lights.

 

[aart]

Quote: The first winter they may very well....but probably not the following winters.
I've used lights the last 2 winters, am not convinced it's the best idea...eventually they need to molt and then you lose production.

 

[ConPollos]

The first winter they may very well....but probably not the following winters.
I've used lights the last 2 winters, am not convinced it's the best idea...eventually they need to molt and then you lose production.

I'm in OK, for how many months will they not lay in Winter? I read that frozen eggs will keep for six months, so I might try that.

 

[aart]

Quote: I have no idea...never gone without lights in winter.