6 Best Solar Powered Coop Lights For Increased Egg Production Farmers Trust
Boost egg laying with solar power. We review the 6 best coop lights farmers trust for reliable, cost-effective, and off-grid winter production.
The first sign of deep winter on a farm isn’t the snow; it’s the empty egg basket. As the days shorten, your hens’ production naturally grinds to a halt, leaving you buying eggs from the store like everyone else. But it doesn’t have to be this way, and the solution doesn’t require running expensive electrical lines out to the coop.
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Why Supplemental Light Boosts Winter Egg Laying
A hen’s egg-laying cycle is tied directly to daylight. They are biologically programmed to lay during the long, productive days of spring and summer. To trigger the hormones for daily egg production, a hen needs about 14 to 16 hours of light. Once daylight drops below 12 hours, their bodies get the signal to stop laying and conserve energy for the winter.
Many people worry that adding light is unnatural or stressful for the birds. This is a misunderstanding. We aren’t forcing them with industrial-strength floodlights; we are simply mimicking a long summer day with a gentle, low-wattage light. The goal is to trick their internal clock into thinking it’s still prime laying season. A simple 4-watt LED bulb provides more than enough light to get the job done without disrupting their natural behaviors.
The key is when you add the light. Always add supplemental light in the morning. Set a timer to turn the light on a few hours before sunrise. This allows the hens to wake up and start their day early, and then as the sun sets in the evening, they can roost naturally with the fading light. Adding light in the evening and having it suddenly shut off can plunge them into darkness, causing panic and potential injury as they try to find their roosts.
Kufung Solar Pendant: Reliable Dusk-to-Dawn Light
For the farmer who values simplicity, the Kufung pendant is a workhorse. Its greatest strength is its built-in light sensor. It automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn, requiring zero daily management from you. You set it up once and it just works.
The design is perfectly suited for a coop. It features a separate solar panel connected by a long cord, typically around 16 feet. This allows you to mount the panel on the sunniest part of your coop roof while placing the light fixture exactly where it’s needed inside—over the feeders or main floor area, not the nesting boxes. This separation is critical for getting a good charge, even if your coop is shaded.
The main tradeoff here is a lack of precise control. A dusk-to-dawn light will run all night, which is more light than is strictly necessary for egg production and can drain the battery faster on a series of cloudy days. However, for sheer reliability and a hands-off approach, it’s an incredibly dependable choice that ensures your hens always have light when it gets dark.
Jackyled Solar Light: Best for Remote Control
The Jackyled solar light introduces a layer of convenience that you don’t realize you need until you have it. Its standout feature is a simple remote control. This means you can turn the light on or off, adjust the brightness, or set a short-term timer without ever stepping foot inside the coop.
Imagine you hear a commotion at night or just want to do a quick headcount before bed. With the remote, you can flick the light on from 30 feet away, check on the flock, and turn it off without unlatching the door and disturbing them. This small feature makes managing the coop after dark significantly easier and less disruptive for the birds.
Of course, with convenience comes a new thing to manage. Remotes get lost, and their batteries need replacing. It adds a potential point of failure compared to a fully automatic system. But if your coop is within range of your house and you value the ability to have manual, on-demand control over the light, the Jackyled system offers a level of practical flexibility that’s hard to beat.
Vont LED Solar Lights: Brightness for Large Coops
If you’re working with a larger walk-in coop or a converted shed, a single pendant light will leave you with dark, shadowy corners. The Vont LED lights, often sold in packs of two or four, are built to provide serious illumination. Their higher lumen output ensures you can light up a bigger space effectively.
Their design allows for strategic placement. You can mount one light over the roosts and another over the feed and water station, ensuring the entire area receives consistent, low-level light. This even distribution is crucial for encouraging normal flock behavior and preventing hens from seeking out dark corners to lay floor eggs.
The primary consideration with brighter lights is to not overdo it. You are simulating dawn, not interrogating your chickens. The Vont lights typically come with multiple brightness settings. Always start with the lowest possible setting; you just need enough light to navigate the coop comfortably. Too much light can cause stress and even encourage negative behaviors like feather picking.
Bemexred Pendant Light: Top Timer Functionality
While a dusk-to-dawn sensor is simple, a programmable timer is optimal. The Bemexred pendant light excels here, offering a remote that allows you to set the light to run for a specific duration—such as 3, 5, or 8 hours. This is the key to perfectly engineering your hens’ "day."
This feature gives you precise control to achieve the 14-hour daylight target without wasting battery power by running the light all night. For example, you can let the light come on automatically at dusk, but set the timer for it to shut off after 3 or 4 hours. Or, you can manually turn it on in the pre-dawn hours and have it shut off automatically. This level of control is the most efficient way to manage supplemental lighting.
Setting it up takes a moment more thought than a simple automatic light, but the payoff is significant. It creates a predictable and consistent schedule for your flock, which reduces stress and maximizes laying potential. For the farmer who wants to fine-tune their system for peak performance and efficiency, a reliable timer is a non-negotiable feature.
Sunforce 150 LED: Motion-Activated Security Pick
This light serves a different, but equally important, purpose. The Sunforce motion-activated light is not for egg production; it’s for protection. Its powerful, wide-angle beam is triggered by movement, making it an outstanding deterrent for nighttime predators like raccoons, weasels, and foxes.
Placing one of these on the exterior of your coop, aimed at the door or vulnerable points on the run, creates a powerful security system. A predator creeping around the perimeter is suddenly blasted with bright light, which is usually enough to send it running for the shadows. It also helps you, providing a clear, safe path for late-night coop checks without fumbling for a flashlight.
It’s crucial to understand this light’s role. The sudden, intermittent blast of light is not suitable for stimulating egg laying. That requires consistent, low-level light. Think of the Sunforce as your coop’s nighttime guard, working alongside a gentler interior light that’s focused on production.
LOZAYI Shed Light: Best for All-Weather Durability
A chicken coop is a surprisingly harsh environment. Between the dust, moisture, and ammonia, cheap plastic fixtures don’t last long. The LOZAYI shed light is built to withstand the realities of farm life, often featuring a cast aluminum or metal housing and a high waterproof rating (IP65 or better).
Durability also extends to the solar panel. The LOZAYI typically comes with a larger, more robust panel that can handle hail and charge more effectively on those short, overcast winter days. A weak panel that can’t gather enough energy on a cloudy afternoon is useless, and this is where higher-quality builds really prove their worth.
This is a classic "buy once, cry once" scenario. A more durable light might cost a few dollars more upfront, but it will save you the time and money of replacing a broken unit mid-winter. For a critical piece of equipment like a coop light, investing in a model that you can trust to work through sleet and snow is a smart decision.
Proper Installation for Maximum Coop Light Effect
Where you put your light and panel is just as important as which one you buy. The solar panel must have a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. Mount it high on the coop roof, away from the shadow of any nearby trees or buildings. Just a few hours of shadow can prevent the battery from reaching a full charge, leaving you with a dim or dead light.
Inside the coop, think about broad, gentle light. Don’t hang the bulb directly over the nesting boxes, as hens instinctively seek out dark, private places to lay. Instead, position the light to illuminate the general floor space, feeders, and roosting areas. The goal is to create a low-level ambient light, similar to a dimly lit room, not a harsh spotlight.
Finally, think about safety. Chickens will peck at and perch on anything they can reach. Secure the cord running from the panel to the light so it can’t be pulled down or chewed on. Tacking it flush against a wall or running it through a small piece of PVC pipe are both great options. And don’t forget to wipe the dust and grime off your solar panel every month or two to keep it charging at peak efficiency.
Choosing the right solar coop light isn’t about finding the brightest or most expensive option; it’s about matching the features to your specific needs. Whether you prioritize set-it-and-forget-it simplicity, remote-controlled convenience, or predator-scaring security, there’s a tool for the job. A small investment of time and money now will pay you back with a satisfyingly full egg basket, even on the coldest winter days.
