As the evenings draw in and the morning darkness is drawn out, I am about to tackle the issue of lighting (on a timer) for the coop so as to "compensate" somewhat for the lack of natural lighting.
Basically, what type of light bulb would more experienced members recommend for the job in hand and the wattage advised?.
As the light will be on a timer, how many hours either side of daylight would you recommend during the winter should the light be on (1 or 2 hours maybe)?.
Thanks in advance, Jon.
One elderly cat called Chloe and Zak the baby tom.... Betty the Speckledy, Maggie the Black Rock and Kylie the Bluebelle !!!
Evening Jon, The only reason commercial chook keepers suppliment the light levels is to maintain egg production. The chooks don't need the extra hours of light as they will settle into the winter rhythm. Egg numbers will reduce but this gives them a chance to have a rest. Dom
Why do you want to put lights in there? Personally I think it's natural for chickens (and other animals, including humans) to shut down somewhat in the darker months - natural and important for their wellbeing. I won't buy eggs from places that use lighting to try to improve laying, so I wouldn't do it in my own coop.
Personally I don't and wouldn't - I prefer to let my chooks lay naturally, rather than provide artificial lighting like they do in the sheds. Chickens only have a finite number of eggs in them anyway, so providing lighting may make them lay all their eggs quicker, but during a lifetime theywill lay the same number anyway.
I have had no problems with the chooks laying during the winter anyway.
Lighting in the house, will make them lay more and the winter is a time for them to slow down and recover from the rigours of the summer laying. I don't think it fair to do it to them, they do a good job all year round. Just a little less in the winter months. Poor little battery hens have the lighting manipulated so they lay 3 eggs in two days and completely wear their dear little bodies out. Hence why we lose them at such an early age. Need to think seriously I think. Wendy
LittleBrownFrog wrote:Why do you want to put lights in there? Personally I think it's natural for chickens (and other animals, including humans) to shut down somewhat in the darker months - natural and important for their wellbeing. I won't buy eggs from places that use lighting to try to improve laying, so I wouldn't do it in my own coop.
If I don't raise the question then I don't know.......
The lady who sold us the birds suggested it so that's why I raised the question.
No light it is then, I don't want to put the chickens into a "manufactured" environment.
Thanks everyone.
One elderly cat called Chloe and Zak the baby tom.... Betty the Speckledy, Maggie the Black Rock and Kylie the Bluebelle !!!
Sorry Shrek - I thinks lots of us all posted virtually the same around the same time. It must have sounded very harsh, but really I am sure we were all just trying to help.
p.penn wrote:Sorry Shrek - I thinks lots of us all posted virtually the same around the same time. It must have sounded very harsh, but really I am sure we were all just trying to help.
Exactly this ... I hadn't seen Dom & Ock's posts (even though they're a whole minute ahead of me according to the forum time, I'm multi-tasking so it takes me a while to hit 'submit' sometimes) - no offence intended
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