Winter coop lighting, what do you use?

[Chris09]

Quote:
The regular incandescent light bulb doesn't have a very good spectrum from what I have herd, if you want good full spectrum lighting you would have to get a Chromalux Light Bulb, Full Spectrum CFL or a Full Spectrum LED.
The Full Full Spectrum lights are the type that you would use in Hydroponics and extended Greenhouse lighting.

Chris

 

[Trishkabob]

jeb 251: I LOVE that idea! we have a sensor we have never used. also have never used light for the coop but may try once we turn the clocks back next weekend. thanks.

 

[jeb251]

my pleasure, let me know how iy works out

 

[mrsteiner]

I have a regular 60 watt bulb on a timer. I used a regular incandescent bulb because it adds a little heat in the coop I'll need that in January and February for sure. My timer turns the bulb on at 4:00 am and off at 8:30. I only add light in the morning and let them go to bed with the sun at dusk.This lighting schedule has got a couple of my hen laying again, but still have several others that have not started laying yet.

 

[Saltcreek]

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I have a 5x6 coop on wheels with 14 Welsummers. I have electric installed and a 40 watt eqivelant LED bulb that uses only 7.5 actuall watts and on a timer. It works quite nicely and with the usage of 25000 hours life, it will last 17 years. With the LED it is not effected by cold weather like a florecent bulb either.

 

[wood&feathers]

Incandescent bulbs worked for my grandmother, so they must provide enough of the light spectrum to keep the girls laying. However I use a CFL. The old ones did lean heavily in the blue spectrums, but the newer ones are better.

Fun experiment- get a glass prism and look at sunlight. Then hold it up to your eye while looking at an incandescent light. Then look at a fluorescent or CFL. It is funny how the new CFLs' spectrum bands are so distinctly separated.

 

[Manningjw]

Quote:
I would love to know the answer to that as well. We currently are using an LED light, I was wondering if traditional lighting was better or more "natural" for the chickens to stimulate laying.

 

[ChickenLove123]

I use a rope light from 6:00 am to 10:00 am.

 

[goldtopper]

Quote:
me too

 

[SheDragon]

The blue light (street lights, not enough spectrum light in offices) has been known to throw off human cicadian (sp?) rhythms. So why not birds? We are used to a broad spectrum with red and yellows, blue is a night hue.