6 Best Chicken Coop Lighting For Egg Production Old Farmers Swear By
Proper coop lighting is key to consistent egg production. We cover 6 reliable, farmer-approved options to help your flock lay well, even in winter.
You walk out to the coop on a cold December morning, and the nesting boxes are empty. Again. It’s a familiar story for anyone raising chickens through the winter; as the days get shorter, egg production grinds to a halt. The secret to keeping those fresh eggs coming isn’t more feed or a warmer coop—it’s light.
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Why Lighting Boosts Winter Egg Production
A hen’s egg-laying cycle is tied directly to day length. It’s a primal, biological trigger. When her brain registers about 14 to 16 hours of light per day, it signals her pituitary gland to release the hormones necessary for egg production.
This isn’t about making the coop bright enough for them to see. It’s about tricking their internal clocks into thinking it’s still a long, productive summer day. A simple, low-wattage bulb is often all it takes to flip that hormonal switch.
The goal isn’t to blast them with light 24/7. Chickens need a period of darkness to rest and roost properly, just like they do in summer. Constant light is stressful and counterproductive. We’re simply extending the "day" to that magic 14-hour mark to keep the egg factory running smoothly.
Philips Heat Lamp: The Old-School Standard
The classic red heat lamp is what many of us started with. It’s a simple, effective tool that provides both light and, more obviously, heat. In a drafty old coop in a northern climate, that warmth can be just as important as the light itself.
The major tradeoff here is safety. These lamps are a significant fire hazard. If one falls into the bedding or a bird knocks it askew, you can lose your entire flock and coop in minutes. You absolutely must secure it with more than just its built-in clamp; use a secondary chain or wire as a backup.
While they work, they are also energy hogs and the bulbs burn out relatively quickly. The red light is intended to be less stressful for chicks in a brooder, but a warm white light is actually more effective at stimulating the laying response in mature hens. Think of this as a dual-purpose tool that does both jobs okay, but neither one perfectly.
AgriBrite LED Bulb: Efficient & Long-Lasting
If the heat lamp is the old standard, purpose-built LED bulbs like the AgriBrite are the modern solution. These are designed specifically for poultry, emitting a light spectrum that effectively stimulates egg production without being overly harsh. They are incredibly energy-efficient, which makes a real difference on your electric bill over a long winter.
The upfront cost is higher than a simple incandescent bulb, but the lifespan is measured in years, not months. You install it once and forget about it. Because it’s an LED, it runs cool, virtually eliminating the fire risk associated with heat lamps.
The key consideration is that it provides light only. It produces almost no heat. If you rely on a lamp for supplemental warmth, you’ll need a separate, safer heat source like a radiant panel. For a well-insulated coop, however, this is the most efficient and effective long-term lighting choice.
Kyson Solar Pendant Light: For Off-Grid Coops
What if your coop is at the back of the property with no power running to it? That’s where solar comes in. A solar-powered pendant light with a detached panel gives you a practical way to add light without running hundreds of feet of extension cord.
These systems work by charging an internal battery during the day and then running the light for a set number of hours after dark. Many come with a remote, allowing you to control the timing and brightness. It’s a brilliant solution for a very common problem.
The reality, however, is that their performance depends entirely on the sun. During a stretch of cloudy winter days, the battery may not get a full charge, leading to dim or inconsistent lighting. They are also generally not as bright as a standard plug-in bulb. It’s a fantastic off-grid option, but you trade plug-in reliability for grid independence.
Bright-Right LED Strings for Even Coop Light
A single bulb in the middle of the coop creates a bright hotspot and leaves the corners in shadow. This can cause chickens to crowd in one area. A better approach for larger coops is to use a string of low-wattage, outdoor-rated LED lights.
Running a string of lights along the ceiling provides much more even light distribution. This ensures all the birds get the light exposure they need, and it eliminates the dark, spooky corners that can encourage roosting in the nesting boxes.
When you hang them, make sure the cord is secured tightly to the ceiling or rafters. You don’t want any dangling loops that a bird could get tangled in. It takes a little more effort to install, but the result is a better, more uniformly lit environment for your flock.
BN-LINK Timer for Automated Lighting Schedules
The single most important piece of equipment in your lighting system isn’t a bulb—it’s the timer. Consistency is everything for a hen’s laying cycle. A simple plug-in timer automates the entire process, ensuring the light comes on and goes off at the exact same time every single day.
You don’t need anything fancy. The old-school mechanical timers with the push-pins are cheap, durable, and get the job done. Digital timers offer more flexibility, but in the dusty, sometimes damp environment of a coop, simple is often better.
Without a timer, you’re relying on your own memory. You’ll forget to turn it on some mornings or leave it on too late at night. That inconsistency disrupts their cycle and defeats the whole purpose of adding supplemental light. A timer is not optional; it’s essential.
Farm Innovators Bulb for All-Weather Durability
A chicken coop is a tough environment. It’s dusty in the summer, damp in the winter, and things get knocked around. A standard household light bulb isn’t built for those conditions and can break easily.
That’s why bulbs designed for agricultural use are a smart investment. Brands like Farm Innovators make bulbs that are shatter-resistant and weatherproof. They’re often coated in a protective silicone or made from tougher glass to handle the occasional bump or splash.
This isn’t about brightness or light spectrum; it’s about durability and safety. Spending a few extra dollars on a bulb that won’t shatter if a hen flutters up and hits it is just common sense. It’s a small detail that prevents a bigger problem down the road.
Setting Up Your Coop Lighting Timer Correctly
How you schedule the light is just as important as having it. Many people make the mistake of adding light in the evening, but this causes a problem. When the timer suddenly clicks off, the birds are plunged into total darkness, causing them to panic and fly into walls instead of finding their roosts.
The correct way is to add the supplemental light in the morning. This wakes them up early, and then they can go to roost naturally as the sun sets in the afternoon. It’s a much calmer, more natural transition for them.
Here’s a practical example: If you have 10 hours of natural daylight (say, 7 AM to 5 PM), you need to add four hours. Set your timer to turn the light on at 3 AM and off around 7:30 AM. The artificial light gets them started, and then the natural sunrise takes over. This simple change in scheduling makes a huge difference in the flock’s stress level.
Ultimately, the best lighting system is the one that fits your coop’s specific needs—whether it’s an off-grid solar setup or a simple, durable bulb on a timer. The key is providing at least 14 hours of consistent, reliable light. Get that right, and you’ll be rewarded with fresh eggs, even on the shortest days of the year.
