Winter in Michigan-adding light- more questions

[Jenilynchickmom]

Hello! It’s us again! For some background-We roost our 6 chickens in our garage. The “coop” is 4x8 and there is an automatic door into our run.

Winter in Michigan is rough and this is my first year with chickens so I for sure have a few questions. We have added an led bar light in the garage for day time for when they come in to lay eggs. Do you typically add the light to morning hours or night time or both? Daylight hours are around 830-430 And if I add it to the morning do I need to move food and water inside since they will want to eat as soon as they wake up?

you are all so nice and helpful. Thank you!

I added a photo for reference we have laying boxes added Now under the roost

 

[sourland]

I like adding morning lighting. That way when the sun sets normally the birds find their way to the roosts before it gets dark.

 

[bobbi-j]

I also prefer to add lighting in the morning. I have it on a timer, so it comes on around 4:30 or so.

 

[Jenilynchickmom]

I like adding morning lighting. That way when the sun sets normally the birds find their way to the roosts before it gets dark.

I also prefer to add lighting in the morning. I have it on a timer, so it comes on around 4:30 or so.

do you both have food/water in the coop then for before the door is open since the light is on and they are awake?

 

[Acre4Me]

We add light in the morning, too. We have light on a timer.

The first year, we added light both morning, and in the evening for a 14 hour span of light (including daylight). However, we switched to morning only bc the birds would naturally go to roost as the sun went down. The next year we switched to morning only, and it seems to work out well. They have water in their coop 24/7 all winter, but we only add feed at night when temps are very cold.

 

[RobertaD1]

If you are going to add supplemental light to your coop... then yes, I would bring food and water inside. Does not have to be a big feeder and waterer... but something. They will eat/drink when they wake up.

 

[aart]

Yes, must have......

food/water in the coop then for before the door is open since the light is on and they are awake?

I also light in the early morning.
OK, to light at night tho too, some do because of early crowing.

Make sure you use a timer, consistency is most important.

 

[Jenilynchickmom]

Thanks everyone so far!
Should I have water inside AND out or will they be inside most?

 

[aart]

Thanks everyone so far!
Should I have water inside AND out or will they be inside most?

I keep both feed and water inside the coop, mostly because of early light and protecting the power source for light and heated waterer, but my run is not weather proof and it is also easier for me to manage it.

 

[NatJ]

Thanks everyone so far!
Should I have water inside AND out or will they be inside most?

Both is fine.
Inside only is fine.

In winter, when outside water would freeze quickly anyway, it probably makes sense to only have inside water.