Lighting without electricity?

[LisaMarie81]

I've seen a few posts on lighting but can't find the answer I'm seeking.

I have 8 girls (7 weeks old) who I have noticed will only go into the coop at night (i.e. put themselves to bed) IF the small side windows on my coop are open to provide a tiny bit of light. If the coop is dark they will stand at the top of the ramp but not go in.
I've seen others who have added some lighting for this reason, but here's the thing. I don't have electricity to the coop so that's out. Battery powered I don't think is an option as I'd have to leave it on all the time because we work all day and well....seems like a pain in the neck and a huge waste of batteries.
Solar seems like the best option, but with the light inside the coop it won't get charged by the sun. Does anyone have a light (or found a light) that can go on the inside but the solar charging portion is separate so that maybe I can put that on the outside? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

It's getting to be a pain going out every night to physically pick these girls up and put them to bed. LOL
Thanks!

 

[Noellereagan]

I've seen a few posts on lighting but can't find the answer I'm seeking.

I have 8 girls (7 weeks old) who I have noticed will only go into the coop at night (i.e. put themselves to bed) IF the small side windows on my coop are open to provide a tiny bit of light. If the coop is dark they will stand at the top of the ramp but not go in.
I've seen others who have added some lighting for this reason, but here's the thing. I don't have electricity to the coop so that's out. Battery powered I don't think is an option as I'd have to leave it on all the time because we work all day and well....seems like a pain in the neck and a huge waste of batteries.
Solar seems like the best option, but with the light inside the coop it won't get charged by the sun. Does anyone have a light (or found a light) that can go on the inside but the solar charging portion is separate so that maybe I can put that on the outside? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

It's getting to be a pain going out every night to physically pick these girls up and put them to bed. LOL
Thanks!

There are some that have a cord to run the solar panel outdoors while keeping the light itself inside. I will post a picture of what I mean shortly. .

 

[PirateGirl]

You said if the window are open they will go in, so if the windows are closed it's pitch black? Do you not have some sort of windo that is glass or plexiglass to allow natural light into the coop? If not, I highly recommend it.

Do you lock the chickens in the coop at night? At this time you could just turn on a small flashlight or battery lantern and they will all go in on their own and you can lock the door and shut off the light behind them.

Also in the past I purchased a solar light at Lowe's for about $30 that has the solar panel separate from the light itself connected by a 20ft. wire so that the light and the solar panel could be in very different places.

 

[Noellereagan]

My solar panel attached to a light on a ten foot cord so the panel and light can be separate from each other. One inside and one out

 

[lazy gardener]

What are the windows made of? Why are you closing them at night? Is there any other ventilation in your coop other than the windows? If not, your greater issue may be lack of ventilation. They may not want to go into the coop b/c of air quality issues in addition to your coop being too dark. IMO ventilation and natural lighting are 2 important pre-requisites to having a healthy flock. If you are closing the windows for predator safety, you can mount some hardware cloth under the windows.

 

[LisaMarie81]

You said if the window are open they will go in, so if the windows are closed it's pitch black? Do you not have some sort of windo that is glass or plexiglass to allow natural light into the coop? If not, I highly recommend it.

Do you lock the chickens in the coop at night? At this time you could just turn on a small flashlight or battery lantern and they will all go in on their own and you can lock the door and shut off the light behind them.

Also in the past I purchased a solar light at Lowe's for about $30 that has the solar panel separate from the light itself connected by a 20ft. wire so that the light and the solar panel could be in very different places.

No I do not have plexi or anything other than these small windows which are only screen so when it's chilly I close them.
I do lock them in at night and would have no problem turning on a light. The problem is they won't go in on their own without a light so I'm physically picking up and putting each one in the coop. That's why I kinda wanted a solar light that as it got dark would turn on and allow them to "put themselves to bed". Good idea with the plexi though so that the morning sun can shine in as well. Poor girls it's dark in there.
Thanks for the info on the light! that sounds like what I'm looking for!

 

[mountain chicken]

beat me to it https://www.harborfreight.com/36-led-solar-security-light-69644.html

I love the lights with a separated solar panel

 

[LisaMarie81]

What are the windows made of? Why are you closing them at night? Is there any other ventilation in your coop other than the windows? If not, your greater issue may be lack of ventilation. They may not want to go into the coop b/c of air quality issues in addition to your coop being too dark. IMO ventilation and natural lighting are 2 important pre-requisites to having a healthy flock. If you are closing the windows for predator safety, you can mount some hardware cloth under the windows.

The windows are small windows with wire mesh over them. No glass/plexi. I only close them when it seems it's going to be chilly. Good point on the ventilation though. So (looking ahead) I figured I'd have to close the coop up everynight in winter to help keep some warmth inside. Sounds like that may be a bad idea now. How do you tackle winter? ventilation vs cold?

 

[LisaMarie81]

My husbands favorite store - Harbor Freight. LOL

 

[coach723]

Mine is on solar, got a solar panel kit at Harbor Freight Tools (larger than that above), added a car battery to my set up so I can run 12V fans, it's HOT here in the summer. My panels and battery run a coop light, on a timer, my automatic door, on a timer, and 3 small fans in my coop. Solar panels go outside, wires run inside the run in rafters where my battery and charge controller are mounted in the rafters also. Wires run in the rafters to timers, lights and fans. It's all 12V so very little risk of fire, and fused, if you are only going to run one small led light you don't need much in the way of panels, I would suggest investing in a timer though, makes things much easier than having to remember to switch things on and off.