Supplemental light for winter laying

[briteday]

If you can, hang the light strands higher than the birds can fly/reach. Otherwise, I've had good luck making a coil of the lights, putting the coil in a plastic ziplock bag (gallon type), and hanging the bag from the wall. That way they can't poop on the lights.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Christmas lights are up! lol

 

[swimmer]

Tis the season. Gonna do mine this weekend. Better make sure they don't blink. Who knows what kind of eggs I'd get with blinking Christmas lights in the coop.
I think I might coil the lights around a 1x1 piece of wood, or how about putting them inside a clear plastic one liter soda bottle? Cut a hole in it just big enough to fit the lights and plug in. I might be on something here.

 

[Wolfwoman]

I'll try to remember to get a pic of mine...lol

 

[woolychicken]

love the christmas tree lights ideal.colored or plain or both ? lol
would it make a difference? love the ideal of the cheaper electric bill
as for the light or no light subject .i live in northern michigan and it get dark to fast. so i will add light for a while in the early moring then tapper off after christmas for a rest. soon the days will begin to get longer and eggs will once agian be on a roll. i guess the best of both ideals.
as for me i have 54 hens most with names.
4 roos named and 9 batumns named.
i guess that means they are pets
blast

and i thought they where just chickens lol

 

[swimmer]

I'm thinking a small stand of white lights would be enough. But not sure. I'll let you know what I think after I have them up this weekend. But I'm thinking yes. Probably wouldn't put off any heat, but I'm not too worried about them needing heat. They have enough shelter from wind, snow, ect.

 

[waldeneffect]

We use a small cheap fluorescent light that does the job of making our hens think the day is longer.

My wife and I have debated over when to add the light...in the morning or at sunset.

She made a blog post on the subject in case anyone might be interested.

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Supplemental_light_in_the_chicken_coop/

 

[AnnieSantiago]

I have a question about lighting.

My coop has a smaller "coop" where the hens go in to sleep.
I'm attaching a photo.

Then there is a larger "coop" made of hardware cloth built AROUND the tiny roosting coop.
Then there is a "run" outside that.

I usually leave the door to the coop open and about dusk they head into the coop and up the ladder to the roosts.

I put a light in the coop today and put it on a timer.
The light was on bright, but the hens STILL went up the ladder into the roosting area.

Do I need to close that door so they can't roost?
And then, how to get them out in the morning?
Or does the light need to be in there (which is most likely impossible because it's a very tiny house.

Help?

 

[gritsar]

I have a question about lighting.

My coop has a smaller "coop" where the hens go in to sleep.
I'm attaching a photo.

Then there is a larger "coop" made of hardware cloth built AROUND the tiny roosting coop.
Then there is a "run" outside that.

I usually leave the door to the coop open and about dusk they head into the coop and up the ladder to the roosts.

I put a light in the coop today and put it on a timer.
The light was on bright, but the hens STILL went up the ladder into the roosting area.

Do I need to close that door so they can't roost?
And then, how to get them out in the morning?
Or does the light need to be in there (which is most likely impossible because it's a very tiny house.

Help?

If you choose to use light, it needs to be where the hens are first thing in the morning. I would not upset their routine, chickens are very much creatures of habit, or It might backfire on you. Upset their routine and light or no light, they may quit laying for a bit.

 

[Dawna]

I've been trying to think of ways to get some light inside my chicken coop. I keep reading that they need 14 hours of light per day. Right now (SE of Austin,TX) it is light about 7:45 a.m. and gets dark at about 12 hours later. But the daylight hours are rapidly getting shorter. I read all the pros and cons re: lighting. We don't need to heat, just protect from wind and rain. I didn't know how much light to use, but if a small string of Christmas lights will work then I don't need to spend money on anything elaborate.