Winter coop lighting, what do you use?

[Nicole01]

We don't have windows in the coop since it's built in our garage. Hubby installed a light inside. I turn it on in the mornings, so they can see to eat and drink. It's been dark when I've been waking them up at 7am. It works out great.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

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jeb I would love to see a picture of your set up.

Also what I'd like to know is if anyone has done something on a timer that is battery operated. Running electric out to the coop is not an option for us. Also our coop is a converted bunny hutch so it is raised off the ground and inside it's still short enough for a chicken to jump and break a light so the bulb would have to have some sort of chicken proof cover. Any ideas?

 

[patricium]

We have fluorescent shop-light fixtures on a timer, and a rope light that comes on just before the fluorescents go off, and stays on for about 10 minutes, to give them enough light to go to bed. Just standard fluorescent tubes in them, and our birds kept laying all through the winter. We give them ~12 hours of light, though it's more so we will be able to see them when they're awake. We're away all day, so if we didn't supplement the light, they'd be asleep when we leave in the morning, and asleep when we get home in the evening.

Our winter coop is half the garage, so we have high ceilings to work with. For the short bunny hutch, a couple of rope lights might work. We like rope lights because they're all encased in plastic tubing, so if they peck nothing bad happens. You might even be able to find LED ropes with a solar power panel. I think I've seen those.

 

[ODEY587]

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[CupOJoe42]

My DH told me that the regular fluorescent bulbs are not made for extreme cold and can shatter. He also said that the new twisty bulbs have mercury in them and are dangerous if broken. I would have to research this to verify, but I think I am going to use a rope light. Still in the build stage and not there yet.

 

[eggscetera]

I use a 100 watt florescent light on a timer. It comes on at 6AM off at 10AM/on again at 5PM and off at 9PM. When it's 30 below (like it was the other night) I leave it on all night for the heat.

 

[DebbieDee]

Is there any heat in a fluorescent light bulb?.Mine doesn't work very well in the cold in our garage....

 

[Moabite]

I got 18 ft of rope lights on a timer to give them 14 hrs a day. It looks like a disco in there. Egg production is up and the girls are happy. Also got a 40 watt bulb in a cookie tin under the waterer. You can't see any light from it, but at least the water doesn't freeze over anymore.

I picked up a strand of LED Christmas lights, the cold white ones, put I am not confident enough to be motivated to switch them out. If they work, I'll rig a solar panel and battery for them.

 

[Manningjw]

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Fluorescent bulbs including the twisted Compact designs contain small amounts of mercury, your husband is correct. I haven't had a flourescent bulb shatter in the cold in our area, they are commonly used in outdoor signs but our temperature rarely drops below 15-20 degrees F.

 

[teach1rusl]

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Ever put your ear to the coop door and hear "Stayin' Alive" being clucked???

Nothin funnier than disco chickens...