Worried about eggless breakfasts in the winter months due to a lack of egg production? Winters can be a tough time for most chicken owners. You’ll often end up with empty crates—and an empty belly. The cold season brings with it shorter days and longer nights which can deter your hens. The simple solution? Best solar chicken coop light you can find on the market!
Lights powered by solar energy such as a heat lamp or standard fluorescent lights ensure that your coop remains well lit and that your chickens get more time to roost and lay more eggs for you. Finally, the best thing is that you can run the light constantly and not worry about stacking up on the electric bills.
Solar lights are the perfect economical solution to all your roosting problems. Also, most of these lights have an automatic timer which can turn the lights on and off without your intervention. In fact, you can download an app to control them from your home!
Buying the Best Solar Chicken Coop Light:
Basically, a solar chicken coop light is perfect for the cold winter months! However, for new chicken owners, buying the best coop light can be quite overwhelming. With so many different brands and products, how do you find the best one for your girls?
Well, here’s what you need to consider to find the best solar chicken coop light:
Size of Your Coop
The first thing to consider is the size of your chicken coop. The size of your coop can help determine the size and the number of lighting you need.
If you have a large coop, then it is better to go with a bigger light as it will allow the light to reach every corner. Otherwise, if your coop is too big, your hens might not be able to benefit from it. In such a case, install a large number of smaller lights so every chicken can get its share of proper light.
Take note, there’s a thing as too many lights! If you install more lights than you need, you might end up with a very bright coop. Additionally, it could stress out your chickens. Therefore, take special care to install the correct amount and size of solar lights.
Type of Bulb for theBest Solar Chicken Coop Light
There are various types of bulbs on the market that you can use to light up your chicken coop.
Incandescent Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs are the cheapest options available on the market. They work quite well in the winter. They do not take time to startup and, instead, give off bright light the moment you switch them on.
At the same time, they tend to be fragile and can break easily. Let’s not forget how expensive they are as they require a lot of power to operate. Your solar generators might run out in an instant. Lastly, they tend to burn out easily.
Fluorescent Bulbs
Unlike incandescent bulbs that converted most of the power to heat, these bulbs converted it to light while giving off as minimal heat as possible. They can run for a long time on solar power and solar batteries.
Sadly, theyare fragile and can burn out easily. What’s more is that they do not work well in cold temperatures. If the temperature drops below zero, you’ll find that they will not be able to operate.
LED Bulbs
When LED bulbs came to the market, farmers, and coop owners breathed a sigh of relief, “Finally, a bulb that doesn’t need replacing every few weeks!” Also, LED bulbs are durable and work perfectly in extremely cold weather. You can easily switch them on at all kinds of temperatures.
Furthermore, they are incredibly efficient. Your solar batteries or generator is bound to last a long time with these bulbs. Although they do tend to be expensive initially, they can actually help you save up on replacement and energy costs in the long run.
Additionally, with the increasing popularity of LEDs, the price seems to be dropping every day. LED bulbs are, without a doubt, perfect for chicken coop lighting in the winter months—should you be able to afford the initial investment, course!
Brightness
Contrary to what most beginners might believe, your solar lights should not be as bright as the sun. Instead, the lights should give off a faint glow. Your purpose is not to simulate day light, but to allow your chickens to bask in heat and light for a longer time.
As mentioned before, the size of your coop might determine the brightness you need. If you have a large coop, a brighter light may be required. Generally, a 50–60-watt bulb is quite sufficient in providing you with adequate brightness.
Installation
Next, figure out how easy is it to install the light. If you have just started building a chicken coop, then you might not need to worry about this. Otherwise, go for one that does not require you to drill holes or use a hammer. Also, excessive noise can often cause distress among chickens.
With some solar lights, you can simply attach them with a hook or a magnet.
Power
An important aspect to consider when looking for the best solar chicken coop light is power. If your bulb takes up too much power, you might not want to use it. Furthermore, it could end up draining the battery. This will leave you and your chickens in the dark. Finally, you should buy one that requires lesser power to operate.
On another note, ensure that the light you buy can be easily attached to other sources of power. An AC/DC supply can come in handy in case of cloudy weather.
Additional Tips
Following are additional tips to help you out in choosing and installing the perfect solar light for your coop:
- Make sure that all your chickens are older than 20 weeks before exposing them to artificial light.
- Place your bulb away from feathers and any other potential fire catching elements.
- Gradually start to increase the lighting period. Don’t take a huge jump from no lighting to four extra hours of lighting. Let the chickens get accustomed to them first.
- Buy a timer with your light to ensure a constant routine.
- Add hours early in the morning and not at night. The total hours of lighting should be around 15–16 hours a day.
Bottom Line
All in all, finding the best solar chicken coop light can be pretty easy if you keep in mind the above factors. Solar light can be a savior in the winter months that lay ahead! Ready to give it a try? Buy one for your flock and see the results for yourself!