Overhead lighting

[MischiefChick]

I am in the process of having a coop built. It is 12x10, with 8' walls. I had electric run to it, and not sure what type of overhead light to use. I would like to go with a cute pendulum light fixture. Would the chickens be tempted to try to fly up and roost on it?

The lighting would be more for me and not for extended laying.

 

[Howard E]

Probably. The closest I have had to that was the heat lamp I hung while they were young and they all tried to fly up to and land on it. Even if they do not try to land on it, they may simply hit it while flapping around in general. Mine seem to want to make an attempt to fly up and and land on just about anything high up in the air.

So knowing that, if it were me, I'd be looking at one of those lights used in horse barn stalls and such that have the light bulb mounted inside a protective glass housing. Protected from impacts and protected from dust and moisture. Not very cute or sexy, but safe and effective. For a house that big, strive for a fixture that will handle a 100 watt bulb min and 200 watts would be better.

 

[JackE]

Yeah, like one of these.


http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200578212_200578212

 

[wsmith77]

Avoid fluorescents. If you can spend the $ go LED. I use LED strip lights in mine. very low power and very high output. http://www.ruralking.com/4ft-integrated-t8-tube.html

They are also aluminum with a plastic guard so no glass to worry about and they daisy chain in case you want to add more.