Adding lighting!?

[Conman]

Truely all you have to do is secure the pin a little bit more. Have a finer mesh if you have a run, or if you can have a cat but desensitize it so it can kill the rats

 

[blackdog043]

You definitely need to fix the problem with the snakes getting in. Is it a dirt or wood floor?

I use a head lamp when I go out. I was using white and it was bothering them enough that they would move around on the roost, switching positions. I decided to buy a combined white and red head lamp. The red light doesn't bother them at all. With that said, I would use a red bulb, if it's bright enough for you to see.

Here's a link for the headlamp, it works great and not expensive, if you want to give it a try. You could do a quick scan with the white light, then switch to red.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MK6DX6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[aart]

I have a new green and white headlamp...I hate it.
I can't see well enough with the green and the white is too bright, bothers the birds.
Am using my old one, switch is getting funky, but it still has 2 brightness settings(and a flasher that I never use) which works very well...dimmer for looking around and brighter for exams.

Turning on an overhead light when it's dark out might not bother the birds...or could send them to moving around off the roost. Headlight is the way to go.

 

[jthornton]

When I do a head count I have a tiny pocket flashlight and don't shine it at their faces just below them and do a quick count.

JT

 

[thudson]

You definitely need to fix the problem with the snakes getting in. Is it a dirt or wood floor?

I use a head lamp when I go out. I was using white and it was bothering them enough that they would move around on the roost, switching positions. I decided to buy a combined white and red head lamp. The red light doesn't bother them at all. With that said, I would use a red bulb, if it's bright enough for you to see.

Here's a link for the headlamp, it works great and not expensive, if you want to give it a try. You could do a quick scan with the white light, then switch to red.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019MK6DX6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Now this is a thought. Never even considered this. Thank you so much! This may be a great option for us!

 

[Birdinhand]

I finally put in underground electrical to the coop last summer and have been loving it! I use it for my de-icer in the winter, the MHP/heat source for the brooder in the spring and I also have lights on a timer to extend the day time during the winter months and this also gives me a way to gather eggs without changing the lighting. the hens go to roost even with the light is on. the book "the Behavior Biology of Chickens", one of the most interesting books on chickens I have read, explains they sleep with only one half of their brain at a time and there is no evidence that they need nearly as much sleep as we do. four hours turns out to be what they absolutely need so even if you add a light and turn it on to run in and grab eggs, I don't think it will mess with their circadian rhythm much.

 

[lazy gardener]

No, it may not mess with their circadian rhythm. But it may get them roused up enough to come down off the perch, and that IMO would not be desirable.

 

[blackdog043]

No, it may not mess with their circadian rhythm. But it may get them roused up enough to come down off the perch, and that IMO would not be desirable.

X 2
Mine moved around enough with the white head lamp, that's why I switched to red and they don't move at all.

 

[aart]

Mine moved around enough with the white head lamp, that's why I switched to red and they don't move at all.

If you don't 'light them a path' they are less likely to move.
If they can't see where to put their feet they'll stay put.
The titling headlight is very handy, tilt it up and you can see but it doesn't light them a path. I keep it tilted up just enough I can tip my head down when need more direct light.

 

[thudson]

Lighting Update! I did add lighting but not electricity. What I did is two things: 1. I got a headlight but it shows a green light that does not scare the hens on the roost. 2. I installed two battery operated LED light switch lights at doorways and down low at nest boxes. These lights I tested last night and do not frighten the hens on the roost do to position I placed them in. My wife was really pleased with them. Plus I refortified the coops to keep the unfriendly critters out with smaller wire mesh and spray foam in gaps. The spray foam sealed gaps plus insulated coop from drafts. So all in all a big success. Happy wife happy life;