Where does the light go?

[SaraFL]

Chicken-keeping newbie here, but I've been reading a bit and got my new chickies yesterday. Chicken enclosure construction is about to begin, but where do I put the light? My plan is to build a smaller chicken house inside a larger chicken pen/run. Do I put the light inside the chicken house, or inside the pen? The pen will be approximately 10'x10'.

Thanks!

 

[ARose4Heaven]

What light are you referring to? The light for you to see or the light to keep the babies warm?

 

[SaraFL]

Sorry, I meant the light to keep the chickens laying.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

In short winter months, you will want a light on a timer to extend the "daylight" hours. It should be in the coop, and have a guard over it to keep chickens from pecking it. You do not need a light to extend laying in Spring, Summer or Fall...just winter.

 

[Bearsfan]

Get yourself a rope light. LEDs run cool so less fire risk and they are covered and you can just wipe them off with a damp rag.
Just loop it around the top of the walls at the ceiling.

It's a seasonal item though, but by the time you will need it they will be on the shelves again.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Quote:
I LOVE this idea! I am such a re-purpose-er, I am surprised I hadn't thought of this. THANKS!!!!

 

[packmomma]

I also have a timer. I have a lamp that I constantly keep clean that is in the shed but outside the "coop". I have hardware wire between my storage area and the coop area. It clicks on at 6am-9am every day and 6pm-9pm every day. Even if its sunny, dont care..its CFL bulb. I do change it when the time changes to keep them on our time. I mostly do it so that I can go in anytime in the morning and at night and I have light in there to get eggs make sure feed water and all that is ok. We run off extension cord so light switch not an option. If its around 9 and its going to be a gloomy day with rain and such I plug the light in to another part that will stay on all day. I only have one window in there and its on the west side because I have poor coop judgement lol. Looking into sky lighting somehow but my green house comes first!

 

[Newbie in Screamer Al]

I keep a nite lite on 24/7 IN the coop. It helped getting them used to going in at nite, and supposedly helps keep predators awy some.

 

[SaraFL]

Ok, great, thank you. Good to know I only have to use the light in winter, since I don't have easy access to electricity where the coop is - I'd have to run an extension cord across the yard. Also great suggestion to use the rope light. I'm really scared of fire, so that is perfect.

Thanks a bunch everyone!