[Rosemary]

Because of the demand for our eggs  , I think I should light the chicken houses this winter. Anyone offer any help / tips re solar or battery. The houses are for 40 birds so not huge but will be too far from the house to safely run a cable.

Thanks

[Sandy]

We had a gardener stay here and he put a solar light up in a shed and it was very bright!! I bought 2 sets of fairy lights last year for the garden, one set Rhum chewed the end off and the other has been brightly lit ever since and they were only £15 so I am sure there are some solar lights that would suit, I love them, if I could I would have them in our garage as I was so suprised there was enough light all year around!!

[bloomer]

there are some good solar lights available, does the light need to simulate daylight? because that will be harder to achieve!!!

[Rosemary]

It needs to come on in the morning early enough to give the hens 14 hours of daylight to keep them laying. It can go off once it's daylight and they will have a natural dusk.

[Anke]

Any light will do, on a timer switch. Don't know about battery, as ours runs on a cable from the goathouse. We extend both ends of the day, otherwise it will have to go on pretty early in December to make 12 hours daylight... and remember the earlier it comes on, the cockerel will be thinking it is morning and announcing it to all and sundry.... so evening might actually be better. Especially if you are using a solar powered one.

[Rosemary]

The theory is that they should have a natural dusk so that they go to roost normally. Take your point about the early crowing though - if it's dark at 4pm, the light will have to come on between 2am and 4am. Mind you he crows at that time now 

[Hermit]

You can get solar lights on timers especially for chicken houses , cant remember where I have seen them but a quick google should bring them up.