6 Best Chicken Coop Lighting Systems For Egg Production Old Farmers Swear By
Boost winter egg production with proper coop lighting. Discover 6 farmer-approved systems to simulate daylight and keep your hens laying year-round.
The days get shorter, the air gets a chill, and suddenly your egg basket starts coming back half-empty. It’s a predictable rhythm of the homesteading year. But a near-empty basket doesn’t have to be your winter reality. The secret, as old-timers have known for generations, is simple: supplemental light.
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Why Supplemental Light Boosts Winter Egg Laying
A hen’s egg-laying cycle isn’t triggered by warmth; it’s triggered by light. Specifically, the duration of daylight tells her pituitary gland whether it’s a good time to invest energy in producing eggs. When daylight drops below about 14 hours, her body gets the signal to slow down and conserve resources for the winter. It’s a brilliant survival instinct.
Our job as flock managers is to gently override that instinct. By providing a low-wattage light source to extend the "day" to between 14 and 16 hours, we keep that hormonal signal firing. This isn’t about forcing a hen to lay beyond her capacity. It’s about creating the ideal environmental cues to maintain steady production through the darker months.
Some folks worry this is unnatural or burns the birds out. The key is to do it gently and consistently. We’re not running a factory; we’re just nudging nature to keep the homestead breakfast table full. A simple, low-wattage bulb on a timer is all it takes to turn a winter slump into a productive season.
myTouchSmart Timer: Simple & Reliable Control
When it comes to coop automation, simple is almost always better. The myTouchSmart plug-in timer is the definition of reliable simplicity. You don’t need Wi-Fi, you don’t need an app, and you don’t need an engineering degree to set it up. You just plug it in, set the on and off times, and walk away.
This is the perfect tool for any coop with a standard electrical outlet. Set it to turn on a few hours before sunrise, extending the morning. This allows the hens to wake up, eat, drink, and get to the business of laying on a consistent schedule, even when it’s pitch black outside. Its rugged design holds up well in the dusty, sometimes damp, environment of a coop.
The real beauty is its dependability. Storms can knock out your internet, but a simple mechanical or digital timer just keeps on ticking. For the farmer who values function over features, this is the undisputed workhorse for coop lighting control. It does one job, and it does it perfectly every single time.
Kasa Smart Plug for Remote Coop Management
For those whose coop is within reach of the home Wi-Fi signal, a smart plug like the Kasa Smart Plug offers a serious upgrade in convenience. Instead of being tied to a fixed schedule, you can control your coop’s light from an app on your phone. This opens up a world of possibilities for the busy hobby farmer.
Imagine you’re running late from work and want to give the flock an extra 30 minutes of light—you can do it from your car. Or maybe you see a week of dark, overcast mornings in the forecast and want to adjust the schedule without trudging out to the coop. The app allows for intricate scheduling, including settings that automatically adjust for local sunrise and sunset times.
The tradeoff, of course, is the reliance on technology. A weak Wi-Fi signal or a power outage can disrupt the system. But if you have a stable connection, the flexibility is unmatched. It’s the modern solution for those who like to fine-tune their flock management from anywhere.
Kyson Solar Lights: The Off-Grid Solution
What if your coop is at the far end of the pasture, nowhere near an electrical outlet? This is where solar shines. A system like the Kyson solar-powered pendant light is a game-changer for off-grid coops, providing reliable light without the cost and hassle of running power lines.
These systems are brilliantly simple: a small solar panel connects to a battery pack and one or more LED bulbs. You mount the panel on the coop roof where it gets maximum sun exposure and run the wire inside to the light. The battery charges during the day and powers the light for hours after dusk. Many even come with a remote control for easy operation.
Be realistic about performance, though. A few cloudy winter days in a row will diminish the battery’s charge and shorten the light’s runtime. You won’t get the perfect, clockwork precision of a grid-tied timer. But for a remote coop, the choice isn’t between perfect light and solar light—it’s between solar light and no light at all. And in that contest, solar wins every time.
Feit Electric String Lights for Even Coverage
The type of light fixture matters just as much as the bulb. A single, bare bulb can create a harsh spotlight effect, causing birds to huddle in one area and leaving the rest of the coop in dark, spooky shadows. The solution is to use heavy-duty outdoor string lights, like those made by Feit Electric.
By stringing a set of these across the coop ceiling, you provide a soft, even wash of light over the entire space. This mimics the gentle, ambient nature of dawn and dusk. It encourages the birds to use the whole coop, reducing stress and competition for a spot "in the sun."
When choosing string lights, always opt for shatterproof, outdoor-rated bulbs. The coop is a tough environment, and safety is paramount. The even distribution of light from a string setup is one of those small details that makes a big difference in creating a calm, productive environment for your flock.
Philips Warm Glow LED: The Best Bulb Choice
Not all light is created equal, and the bulb you choose is critical. You want to mimic the warm, yellow-orange hues of a natural sunrise, not the harsh, blue-white light of an office building. The best choice, hands down, is a "warm white" LED bulb, specifically one in the 2700K color temperature range. The Philips Warm Glow line is an excellent example.
A harsh, cool light can be stressful for chickens, disrupting their natural rhythms. A warm, low-wattage light (a 40-watt equivalent is plenty for a standard backyard coop) provides the necessary daylight cues without being jarring. LEDs are the only way to go—they run cool, drastically reducing fire risk from contact with dust or bedding, and they sip electricity, keeping costs down.
The "Warm Glow" feature is a fantastic bonus. As the light dims (if you have a dimmer), the color temperature becomes even warmer, beautifully simulating a setting sun. While not essential, it’s a thoughtful touch that contributes to a low-stress environment. Investing in a quality bulb is a small price for the well-being and productivity of your flock.
My Pet Chicken’s All-In-One Lighting Kit
If you’re new to chickens or simply want to take the guesswork out of setting up a safe system, an all-in-one kit is a fantastic starting point. Companies like My Pet Chicken have assembled packages that include everything you need: a timer, a coop-safe, low-wattage bulb, and often a protective wire guard for the bulb itself.
The primary benefit here is peace of mind. You know that every component has been selected specifically for use in a chicken coop environment. There’s no risk of accidentally buying a bulb that runs too hot or a timer that can’t handle the dusty conditions. It’s a plug-and-play solution that gets you up and running in minutes.
While you might save a few dollars by sourcing each component individually, you’re paying for curated convenience and safety. For a first-time coop builder or someone with limited time, these kits are an intelligent and practical investment. They let you focus on your birds, not on navigating the hardware store.
Proper Light Installation and Safety Tips
Putting a light in a barn or coop isn’t like screwing a bulb into a lamp in your living room. The environment is filled with dust, moisture, and curious animals, all of which introduce risks. Getting the installation right is non-negotiable for the safety of your flock.
The most important rule is to add light in the morning, not the evening. Set your timer to turn on at 4 or 5 a.m. and turn off shortly after the sun is fully up. If you add light in the evening, it will suddenly go dark, and your hens will be caught on the coop floor, unable to find their way to the roosts. A pre-dawn light allows them to wake up and start their day naturally as the real sun rises.
Beyond timing, physical safety is paramount. Follow these rules without exception:
- Secure All Cords: Run wires in conduit or tack them tightly along beams, well out of reach. Chickens will peck and pull at anything dangling.
- Use a Bulb Cage: A simple wire guard around the bulb prevents a bird from flying into it and burning itself or shattering the bulb.
- Keep It Clean: Regularly wipe dust and cobwebs off the bulb and fixture. A thick layer of dust on a hot bulb is a serious fire hazard.
- Use Outdoor-Rated Gear: Ensure your extension cords, timers, and fixtures are all rated for outdoor or damp location use.
Ultimately, the best chicken coop lighting system is the one that is safe, reliable, and fits your specific setup. Whether it’s a simple timer on the grid or a solar-powered light in a remote pasture, the goal is the same: providing a gentle, consistent cue that keeps your flock healthy and your egg basket full through the darkest days of winter.
