[minifarmer]

I’ve recently acquired a flock of 50 Bovans Browns. In readiness for less day light hours I am hoping to install some lighting in the coop (a 12x8 shed.)

I have no access to mains electricity so I’m going to have a 12v leisure battery connected to a timer running the lights.

Does anybody have any experience or recommendations of the best lights to use?

Secondly, will I require a fuse or resistor in the wiring? I will be testing this set up at home before installing in the chickens coop so no animals will be hurt in the making of the light.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

[Beewyched]

Hiya & welcome    from a very    &    West Scotland
I'm interested in answers to your post, as we have an extremely dark byre we'd like to use for maternity purposes, but it's like a cave in there - not much light even when it's     

[Victorian Farmer]

12 volt 20 led strip/ tube light/lamp built in switch warm white 35cm long.or LED LIGHT CARAVAN MOTOR HOME BOAT FLUSH FIT 12 VOLT WITH 24 SMD LED'S FITTED last 1 month with out charge i use 2 with leisure battery and 3ft solare panel very similar to the electric fence ones

[Beewyched]

Aha - sounds like just the job - thanks 

[mab]

I'd 2nd the LED lights and solar panel plan, although, as I assemble my own LED lights I can't help much when it comes to recommendations of specific led lamps/strips.

m

[southernskye]

Can LEDs be dimmed in order to "fade" the lighting out of an evening?
 
I have been pondering a similar set-up for the future as it does get dark early and stay so long up this neck of the woods. But I had always been under the impression that, in order not to shock-the-flock, the light needs to be dimmed-to-dark of an evening so the hens have time to find a perch before full darkness.
 
rgds
Sskye

[Womble]

Yes you're right SouthernSkye, but if you only turn the light on in the early morning, say 4am-9am on a timer, they'll still get enough light over the course of the day.However, this then means you can use the natural dusk so they have time to roost etc.

[Victorian Farmer]

these lights are on e bay and not to bright should last well

[minifarmer]

Thanks for replies so far.

If I purchased something along the lines of this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-LIGHT-STRIP-1-METRE-AWNING-WORKSHOP-VAN-12V-OR-230V-MOTORHOME-CARAVAN-BOAT-/230841020789?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item35bf327175

Could I connect this straight to my 12v supply or would I need a resistor in the wiring. I’ve looked into wiring up LED’s and now confused myself. I’m assuming a resistor is if creating a LED light from scratch just didn’t want to blow the light in first 5 minutes.

Cheers

[Victorian Farmer]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-LED-Under-cabinet-Strip-Lights-12w-LED-12v-Driver-/250900789956?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Night_Lights_Fairy_Lights&var=&hash=item3a6ada3ac4

[graham-j]

Hi, I too am interested in adding light to my run but I don't however wish to turn them on early in the morning morning,due to the noise the cockerels make.
What is the best way to go about turning the lights back off if I had them on in an evening,eg creating a false sun set.

Graham.

[tobytoby]

Interesting post. I have acquired a complete set up of solar panel/bespoke charging batteries and LED lights.
Would anyone know how and what i could use as a timer to come on/off, and where i would position it in the wiring line up - would it simply be before the light?

[Victorian Farmer]

you need 4 extra hour es for them to lay either morning or night .I do night time i give them a rest from naw till the end off November i feed them morning noon and bed time .I then need to get them in condition for Christmas time for good eggs so new chicks .So if lights come on at 3 30  till 8 30 iff its cold warm food etc .

[Victorian Farmer]

yes before the light ,it dosent matter iff its garden out doore lights etc as long as they can see. The solare pannel will dim as the power goes out so dusk is made .

[graham-j]

Hi,how would I create an artificial sun set using mains powered lighting.

Graham.