6 Best LED Barn Lights for Chickens

The first sign of deep winter on the homestead isn’t the snow; it’s the sudden drop in eggs. Your reliable layers slow to a trickle, leaving you buying eggs from the store just like everyone else. The right supplemental lighting can change that, turning your coop into a pocket of productivity even on the shortest days.

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Why Supplemental Lighting Boosts Winter Egg Laying

A hen’s egg-laying cycle is tied directly to day length. Her pituitary gland needs about 14 to 16 hours of light per day to trigger the hormones responsible for egg production. When autumn arrives and daylight hours dwindle below 12, her body naturally signals it’s time to rest and conserve energy for the winter.

Supplemental lighting is simply a way to trick her biological clock. By adding a few hours of artificial light in the morning or evening, you extend the "day" to that magic 14-hour mark. This isn’t about forcing the hen; it’s about maintaining the hormonal signal she’s used to during peak season.

The key is consistency. Use a simple, inexpensive outlet timer to ensure the light comes on and goes off at the same time every single day. Most folks find it best to add light in the morning, so the flock isn’t plunged into sudden darkness at night, which can cause panic. The goal is a gentle, reliable extension of daylight that keeps the eggs coming.

Some argue that giving hens a winter break is more "natural." That’s a valid perspective, but for a homestead focused on self-sufficiency, a consistent food supply is also a natural priority. Providing light is a management choice, and when done correctly with the right kind of light, it’s a safe and effective way to keep your family supplied with fresh eggs year-round.

SANSI 20W LED Security Light: Top Durability

When you’re putting electronics in a chicken coop, durability is non-negotiable. Coops are dusty, humid, and subject to ammonia fumes—a brutal environment for cheap hardware. This is where the SANSI light stands out with its ceramic heat sink design, which resists corrosion far better than the typical aluminum fins on other flood lights.

This 20W model provides ample light (around 2000 lumens) for a standard 8×10 or 10×12 coop without creating harsh, blinding hot spots. It’s built to be a security light, meaning it’s already weatherproof (IP65 rated) and designed to run for thousands of hours without issue. You hardwire it in, set it on a timer, and forget about it.

The tradeoff is that it’s a single, powerful light source. You have to be strategic with placement to illuminate the whole space, especially roosts and nesting boxes, without casting deep shadows. But for a simple, rectangular coop, one of these mounted high in the center is a buy-it-once, install-it-once solution.

Onforu 2-Pack 35W Flood Lights for Best Value

Sometimes, two lights are better than one, especially in a larger or L-shaped coop. This two-pack from Onforu delivers incredible value, allowing you to eliminate dark corners and provide more even, low-stress illumination across the entire space. Even lighting encourages hens to use the whole coop, not just the area under a single bright light.

While each light is 35W, you can position them to cover different zones, ensuring the roosting bars and the feeding area are equally well-lit. This is particularly useful for preventing chickens from crowding into one small, bright area. The combined light output is more than enough for coops housing 20 or more birds.

The compromise here is in the construction. These lights typically use standard aluminum housings, which are perfectly fine but may not have the same extreme long-term corrosion resistance as a ceramic model. For the price, however, the ability to create a well-lit, shadow-free environment makes this two-pack an excellent budget-friendly choice for achieving optimal coverage.

JACKYLED Solar Pendant Light for Off-Grid Coops

What if your coop is at the far end of the property with no power? Running electrical conduit is expensive and a lot of work. The JACKYLED Solar Pendant Light is a brilliant workaround, designed specifically for sheds, gazebos, and, yes, chicken coops that are off the grid.

The system is simple: a small solar panel mounts on the coop roof, connected by a long cord to a pendant-style light inside. During the day, the panel charges an internal battery, and at night, the light provides hours of illumination. There are no running costs, and installation is as easy as mounting the two components with a few screws.

The obvious tradeoff is reliability. A few cloudy or snowy days in a row can mean the battery doesn’t get a full charge, and your light might be dim or not turn on at all. This makes it less ideal for those who need absolute 14-hour consistency for egg production. However, for providing general light in a remote coop or as a simple, cost-free solution, it’s an invaluable tool.

STASUN 30W LED Dusk-to-Dawn Flood Light

If you value automation above all else, a dusk-to-dawn light is the answer. This STASUN model has a built-in photocell that automatically detects ambient light levels. It turns on by itself as the sun sets and shuts off when the sun rises. This completely eliminates the need for a separate timer.

This is the ultimate "set it and forget it" system. You install it once, and it handles the daily schedule for you, adjusting automatically as the days get longer or shorter through the seasons. For a busy homesteader, removing one small daily variable can be a huge win.

The downside is a lack of precise control. You can’t program it for exactly 14 hours; it simply extends the natural day. In the dead of winter, this might mean it runs for 15 or 16 hours, which is generally fine, but it’s less exact than a timer. You’re trading pinpoint control for total convenience.

Lepro 25W Plug-In LED Light: Easiest Setup

Not everyone is comfortable with hardwiring electrical fixtures. The Lepro Plug-In light bypasses that entirely. It mounts on the wall with a simple bracket and comes with a standard three-prong plug on a 5-foot cord, ready to be plugged into any nearby outlet.

This is the perfect solution for coops located close to a house, barn, or shed that already has an outdoor-rated electrical outlet. You can pair it with an inexpensive plug-in timer for full automation without touching a single wire. The setup takes minutes, not hours.

The main consideration is cord management. The cord must be secured high up along the wall or ceiling, well out of reach of curious beaks. You must also ensure the outlet it’s plugged into is a GFCI outlet and protected from rain and snow. With those safety precautions in place, this is unbeatable for sheer simplicity and speed of installation.

Sunco Lighting 40W Flood Light for Larger Coops

For those with a larger flock in a converted shed or small barn, a standard 20W light just won’t cut it. The Sunco 40W Flood Light provides the power needed to fill a larger volume of space with adequate light. One of these can effectively replace two smaller lights, simplifying wiring and installation.

A higher wattage light like this is essential for maintaining brightness over a wider floor area, ensuring there are no gloomy corners where bullying or egg-eating can occur unseen. The goal isn’t to make the coop intensely bright, but to provide enough low-level light to mimic a slightly overcast day throughout the entire structure.

Proper placement is crucial to avoid a harsh "spotlight" effect. Mounting it higher up and aiming it at a light-colored ceiling or wall can help diffuse the light for a softer, more even glow. For a big space, this light provides the raw power you need to get the job done efficiently.

Choosing the Right Color Temperature for Hens

This might be the most overlooked, yet most important, factor. Not all light is created equal. LED lights are sold by "color temperature," measured in Kelvin (K), which describes whether the light appears warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish).

For chickens, you want to mimic the warm, gentle light of the morning sun. This means you should always choose a light in the Warm White range, typically 2700K to 3000K. This soft, yellowish light is calming for the flock and has been shown to reduce stress, feather picking, and aggression.

Avoid bulbs labeled "Daylight" (5000K+) or "Cool White" (4000K+). This harsh, blue-toned light can be stressful for birds, leading to agitated behavior. It’s a simple choice that has a massive impact on the well-being of your flock.

• Best Choice: 2700K – 3000K (Warm White)
• Acceptable: Up to 3500K (Neutral White)
• Avoid: 4000K and above (Cool White / Daylight)

Ultimately, the best light for your coop depends on its size, your access to power, and your budget. By focusing on durability, proper color temperature, and a setup that works for your specific homestead, you can keep your flock healthy and productive. A small investment now will pay you back with fresh, delicious eggs all winter long.