6v lighting for chicken tractor

[Brian M]

Hi All,
We have a chicken tractor with a solar (photocell) actuated door. The door is powered by a rechargeable 6v battery that is connected to a solar panel in order to keep it charged. Does anyone know of a 6v timer we could use to turn lights on and off? Winter is coming and looking to increase the number of "daylight" hours.

Thanks.
Brian

 

[pennyJo1960]

Google it or Amazon would give you answers there

 

[aart]

Hi All,
We have a chicken tractor with a solar (photocell) actuated door. The door is powered by a rechargeable 6v battery that is connected to a solar panel in order to keep it charged. Does anyone know of a 6v timer we could use to turn lights on and off? Winter is coming and looking to increase the number of "daylight" hours.

Thanks.
Brian

Not sure how you set that up.
@jthornton or @cavemanrich may know if and how.

 

[jthornton]

There's a lot of 6v timers to choose from, depending on the current draw of your lights and the timer the door's solar panel may not have enough capacity to keep the battery charged. A much safer plan would be to install a separate system for the lights.

JT

 

[cavemanrich]

Winter is coming and looking to increase the number of "daylight" hours.

Let me share with you what I do and my results. Then I will end with my opinion on added light.
BTW,,,, I have read a number of articles, as they did interest me.

During winter time I provide winter housing for my chickens inside my garage, in loft area. I keep some small Serama chickens as pets besides my LF hens. They are not cold hardy chickens so that is one of the reasons. Loft area is sufficiently large enough for the small flock of pets that I keep. I provide them 12 hours of light on a timer. I provide them Heated water source, and feed is always available. I check feed and water daily. The winter housing has another advantage for me. Generally we leave for work when it is still dark, and return from work when it is already dark. That makes opening, and closing (securing) the outdoor coop during short light days, a challenge.
My egg production during winter is really low, compared to summertime, despite me adding their light. I have the light there so they do see where their feed and water, is as well as to navigate to roost, and scratch around areas. ,

Chickens know when to lay eggs from a hormone signal they get from their PINEAL gland.

Here is a copy, and paste.
Finally, blind birds can see light. Birds reproductive cycles are controlled by their pineal gland, which is located in the middle of the bird’s forehead, just under the skull. The skull is thin enough that reasonably bright light penetrates it and will still stimulate the hormone cascade that begins lay. Even blind chickens can “see” spring coming.

A thing to note,,,,,, is, the light needs to be sufficiently bright to cause this reaction.
Article is in this site.
https://mikethechickenvet.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/chicken-vision/

Another good source to read thru is on this site. BTW, Chicken Chick is a BYC member also
https://the-chicken-chick.com/supplemental-light-in-coop-why-how/

So now to share my opinion, and thoughts.
To have a positive impact with added light, here is what is needed/required.
A. Light needs to be added in the morning hours.
B. Light needs to be added so total light during each day is about 14 hours.
C. Light needs to be sufficiently bright enough. (to activate the pineal gland)

Conclusion; a small amount of light produced by an LED source is fine for aiding chickens navigating to their roost, but will do little to stimulate their hormones.

ETA;
Brian M
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[jthornton]

C. Light needs to be sufficiently bright enough. (to activate the pineal gland)

I suspect that has the most impact on trying to get hens to lay in the winter. Molting will stop egg laying AFAIK as well as short days. I stopped adding extra light for my RIR hens because they are heritage breeds and not hybrid breeds. My Cinnamon Queen pullets on the other hand are a high production hybrid breed and I had planned on giving them extra light but with 12 of them I would have to open the door to the run and light it up as well... hmm I might do that with some super bright 12v LEDs.

Interesting read on layer lighting here.

JT

 

[aart]

Molting will stop egg laying AFAIK as well as short days.

I believe the shortening days effect molting as well as laying.

 

[jthornton]

I believe the shortening days effect molting as well as laying.

So far in my short career as a Chicken Tender I've not seen any molting in the spring. I've only seen it in the fall and winter. I now wonder if my additional light caused the winter molting last year or not but this year the hens are molting now.

Here is another good paper from the University of Nebraska on laying and lighting.

JT

 

[aart]

I've not seen any molting in the spring.

My first year I used lights on mostly adult birds that I got in the fall.
They laid all winter, but some molted in the spring when I turned the lights off.
Using lights can be tricky.